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AndrewC
Staff
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 896
Loc: London, UK
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Virus attacks Mac users
Users of the Mac OS X system are for the first time the target of a malicious code, security experts warn.
The virus, named OSX/Leap-A, spreads via the instant messaging iChat program as a file called latestpics.tgz and attempts to spread to contacts on an infected user's buddy list...
full story and poll
What do you think of this? A fuss about nothing? Are Macs really as safe as people think?
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Escaport
new user
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 1
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Quote:
Virus attacks Mac users
Users of the Mac OS X system are for the first time the target of a malicious code, security experts warn.
The virus, named OSX/Leap-A, spreads via the instant messaging iChat program as a file called latestpics.tgz and attempts to spread to contacts on an infected user's buddy list...
full story and poll
What do you think of this? A fuss about nothing? Are Macs really as safe as people think?
Yep, they are. It is not entirely out of the realm of possibility that a virus could be created, but this isn't it. This "virus" is really a trojan. It can not infect a Mac unless the following conditions are met:
1. You must have downloaded, approved an iChat file transfer, or saved it from an email attachment.
2. You must double click the item and decompress/unzip it.
3. You must then double click the decompressed file and run it.
4. You must enter the systems administrator password and OK the programs installation.
5. You must have iChat running in order for it to send itself to someone else, as it cannot open iChat by itself. Also, the next "Victim" must OK the transfer in order for it to continue.
If you complete this chain of events, you deserve it. Not that it does anything.
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TheFatControlleR
Forum Admin
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 7322
Loc: Megatripolis
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Typical. I always knew Macs made everything so difficult, just for the sake of it.   
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 TFC
'Going to trial with a lawyer who considers your whole life-style a Crime in Progress is not a happy prospect.' - Hunter S Thompson (1937-2005)
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Madeline
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 15408
Loc: Gallifrey
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Quote:
Are Macs really as safe as people think?
I've never used a Mac, but I think they probably are. I think this is mainly due to the predominance of Windows PCs; why write a virus for a much less used system when you can potentially create global mayhem writing them for Windows?
Madeline.
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"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton, 1887.
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Mouse
Moderator
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 6986
Loc: Psst....over here
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and another one!
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TheFatControlleR
Forum Admin
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 7322
Loc: Megatripolis
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Probably down to some script-kiddy who believes everything he see's at the cinema, and thinks the whole word uses either Deep Blue, Cray or Apple Macs!!
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TFC
'Going to trial with a lawyer who considers your whole life-style a Crime in Progress is not a happy prospect.' - Hunter S Thompson (1937-2005)
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Mouse
Moderator
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 6986
Loc: Psst....over here
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hattrick
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evilmonkeyzz
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 2202
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The only reason that Macs are more secure then Pcs is because they are not as popular. If you want to infect the most people and casue the most damage then you would produce a virus for a pc rather then a mac as there are more users for it to affect. If Macs became as popular as pcs then macs would then have all of the same problems as pcs do.
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