Viruses, Worms, Trojans, and OS X
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Dirk Pilat - 2002.06.07
A very good day to you all!
While it is getting chillier down here at the end of the world, all around me colleagues, friends, and coworkers are straining from an increased viral load. No, I am not referring to hepatitis, influenza or herpes. I am, of course, talking about computer-viruses, worms, Trojan horses, etc. (as this is lowendmac.com, and if anybody thinks this might be the New England Journal of Medicine you are certainly on the wrong website. And no, we don't have any Jenna Jameson pictures either).
As a Mac user, I have never really taken any notice of PC-borne viruses, as they just don't concern me, but recently my inbox has been flooded with emails from people unknown to me, asking me to have a look at their girlfriend or just to open the attachments (something very sneaky, isn't it?).
Now, I normally don't get asked to look at peoples girlfriends, and even if I would be asked, I would divert my eyes in shame, having the best ever girlfriend myself, so emails like that make me obviously suspicious. A recent feature on Slashdot deepened my suspicion: The Internet is utterly awash with infectious little binary packages created by big boys with small egos who are desperate for recognition.
I made a conscientious decision to run OS X and OpenBSD behind an OpenBSD firewall. In other words, it doesn't get much safer then that (apart from switching off my modem and hiding my computer under the bed). This means for me freedom of worry from most port-based attacks, freedom of worries from Windows email viruses/worms
The only question is: Does anybody know about any OS X viruses?
A quick Google check did not reveal any sources of concern, but let's be honest: Somewhere out there a kid with a grudge must be sitting in front of his dad's Cube, programming a quick and dirty OS X pathogen. My question to the community out there: Do you guys know about any threats that might be looming, or do you know about any loopholes in our defense from unwanted visitors? I would love to hear from you and feature any input in the next column.
Until then, protect your computers and stay away from Wintel
machines - you might just catch a cold.
Recent Down But Not Out Columns
- Thoughts and advice on replacing a two-year-old iBook G4, 02.01. This iBook G4 has taken a beating. Does it make more sense to buy a new iBook G4, wait for the Intel models, or look at the used market?
- iBook on last legs, Mac mini saves marriage, and Macintel meanderings, 01.23. With the iBook G4 "falling apart at the seams", does it make more sense to buy a new G4 iBook or wait for the Intellified next gen iBook?
- First impressions of the 14" iBook G4, 11.13. "Apple has managed to produce a machine that combines everything I want from a portable computer with appropriate processor performance for a competitive price."
- Apple shines after a poorly timed iBook order, 11.06. The frustration of ordering a G3 iBook just two days before it was replaced by a G4 model.
- More in the Down But Not Out index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: Centris 650, Feb. 1993 - The replacement for the Quadra 700 has room for an internal CD-ROM.
- List of the Day: Old Mac MP covers 604-based multiprocessor Macs and clones.
- September 7 in LEM history: 98: Banner exchanges - 00: Tips from the Mac manager - Getting a Mac job - 01: Apple and the gray market - Repositioning the 'Books - 04: Tray loading iMac a good choice for OS X? - Pismo CPU upgrades - 06: Mac mini value equation - Setting up a Mac Classic II - Putting the Intel transition in perspective - 07: Region free DVD viewing, - My Newton - Solving Mac disk and hardware problems - 2 apps every MacBook should have
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- Overclocking a Mac mini Got Me Hooked on Souping Up Macs, Adam Geller, My First Mac, 09.04. Stories of hot rodding iBooks, G3 iMacs, and PCI Power Macs on the cheap.
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- Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.04. Used 867 MHz Combo, no APX, $490; 1 GHz, $550; SuperDrive, $625; 1.5 GHz w/o APX, $660; w/APX, $675.
- Best Mac mini Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.04. Used 1.25 GHz G4 SD, $549; 1.42 Combo, $409; new 1.83 Core2 Combo, $569 after rebate; 2.0 SD, $769 after rebate.
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- Save Internet Radio, USB and Hard Drives, Hardware Manufacturers vs. Linux, and More, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 09.03. Also Mac won't book after cleaning, newer versions of OS X improve wake from sleep, downgrading to OS 8.6, unreadable pages on Low End Mac, and more.
- Another Free POP3 Provider, Recharging a Dead PRAM Battery, Current Kanga Value, and More, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.03. GMX email now available in US, Panasonic UJ-841S drive won't burn discs, restoring a dead PRAM battery in a Pismo, and thoughts on Kanga value today.
- Best eMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.03. Used 700 MHz Combo, $120; 1.25 GHz SuperDrive, $150; 1.42 GHz, $349.
- Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.03. Mac OS X 10.5, single user, $99; 5 users, $140; 10.5 Server, 10 users, $395; unlimited, $850.
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- Psystar Strikes Back, Countersues Apple, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.03. Psystar is trying to paint Apple as a monopoly and force it to license the Mac OS.
- More links in our archive.
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