New Mac Virus is a Worm, But Can't Pose Threat Due to Amateur Mistake

Dailytech reports:

Virus proves insignificant, but may be a sign of things to come

A trojan virus attacking Apple computers, transmitted via pirated iWork software, gained significant attention as it was one of the first viruses to strike the OS X platform.

[Thugbot187]

As soon as more people start using Apple you will see more of this happening. Apple users don't have Anti-Virus so....

[Tito Jackson]

Are like Nuclear Weapons.

Macs = Luckenbach, Tx
PCs = Los Angeles, CA

So, if you were a terrorist, and you wanted to make a successful attack---who would you bomb?

Macs arent impervious to attacks, its just very rare for someone to create a virus geared towards them. 99% of viruses are made for PCs, and are CREATED on PCs. :)

[BulletToothtony]

is that macs can get worms yes.. but in order for it to install you have to type in your password.. if you go to a site or open an email or plug in a usb drive you won't get anything..

While pc's can.. you just have to barely look at the file and the virus can affect your computer without you even noticing.. if people are downloading bittorrents and installing them without checking what's inside then this is suppose a big threat.. but in general yes macs can be infected, but you have to let it in.. unlike pc's..

[Information Minister]

OMG... There's a worm in the Apple!

Get it? Worm, Apple? Aaaahhhh forget about it.

[Tempist]

It only gets more intense from here on out. Macs FTL.

[MartyPs3]

I'm kinda rooting the Virus against MACs. Just to finally shut the ppl who says they're MAC can't get viruses. But even more want to see how apple will adapted itself when all they're vulnerabilities start getting attacked.

[SaiyanFury]

I've been saying it for a long time that Macs aren't as secure as people would like to believe. They CAN get viruses and just because the OS is UNIX based doesn't make it secure. It makes OSX secure against Windows-based viruses but if someone writes a virus for a UNIX-based system OSX is at it's mercy. And with zero antivirus protection available (at least to my knowledge) Macs are at the mercy of any hacker or malware developed specifically for them.

[jden28]

Finally the truth is coming out!!! I hear all these people talking about Apple as if thier gods and there software/hardware combo is the best, it's not, same with linux. Just because nooobody was using mac's or linux they felt as if they were better than everyone else. The truth is that nobody wrote software for those platforms and that includes the hackers that send these viruses to everybody anyway. So now the more thay sell the more thay'll be attacked and then people will see just why windows(whatever version) are not as bad as they thought just more popular so more of a target to virus hackers.

[dirthurts]

I wouldn't be surprised if this became the new "thing to do" for hackers and the like. Sure, anyone can smack around a Pc. Everyone does that. But it's easier to get attention when it happens to macs.
About time for apple to start kicking up that anti virus program they've been lacking now.
I could even see macs being super vulnerable if suddenly tons of hackers jump onto the wagon, and apple would be mostly unprepared. It's harder to block attacks, than to get in.
I see a very interesting war coming.

[Shuya]

So judging by the responses here you actually want people to get virus on their computers just cause you don't use the same os?!?! Well it doesn't get any more spiteful or pathetic than that.

[PS360WII]

Indeed. In the world of electronics there is room for only one persons opinion to matter...

[sloth4urluv]

Well I dont want to wish a virus on anyone, but I can understand why people would enjoy this.

Most apple users are pretty smug and go out of their way to make a point that they are using an imac or iphone. Or how Macs cant get viruses, or they dont get BSOD.

Same goes for sony, when the PS3 was first unveiled and they made comments like the next generation dosnt start until we say it does. Sony was very smug just because they were really successful with the PS1 & PS2 franchise and felt that they could do no wrong. It was really quite refeshing to watch them get off to a rough start and fall on their face.

I think it was good for PS3 owners too because it made Sony realize that they needed to put forth a little more effort, and that they couldnt get buy on just their name alone.

A little humility every so often is nice.

[BulletToothtony]

same people here who hate MS and the 360 and blah blah, MS is evil come to these apple news and hate on apple and they love MS and windows..

It's funny how they love MS all of the sudden.. worse of all they hate apple without even ever trying OS-X it's an awesome OS it works so freaking smooth..

Yet they hate apple because macs are more expensive and they think they're just overpriced pc's..

And then they hate on people who can't afford $400 to buy a ps3.. if they had the money and tried a mac.. they wouldn't be dumb enough to hate something they haven't even tried..

Just like live only user hate the psn and they don't even know how great it works.

Oh well..

[PS360WII]

Hmm sounds like they are pointing and laughing at the "amateur" virus creator. Mocking him to try again perhaps?

[cmacdonald]

old news

[leftbehindxp]

Indeed, quite a few months old.

But this was due to downloading an illegal copy of iWorks. If you don't set up some precautions when pirating then you better watch out. A.K.A ignorance on the downloaders end. He/she accepted and pressed yes when asked to download and installed this software, thats how macs get trojans in this case and most.

[Shadowstar]

Yeah. I wonder why they're calling it "new..." Probably to try to make people think there are multiple issues.

[Blades08]

Why is this a big deal, it is old, Apple has always had viruses just very very few. As more people get Macs (OS X) people will start making more viruses for Macs, that's why there are so much more on Windows. Even Apple has had to change it's Macs don't get viruses to it's very difficult or slim, that is - unless you intentionally do so by downloading some program and didn't know it was on it (that's mainly the way all viruses are spread). You should get a antivirus for Mac regardless, there are some free ones out there, I use to use CalmXav (it's free) now I use Norton. However, there are a lot of folks out there that still think that Macs don't get viruses or Apple takes care of that for them in updates.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

I watched an "I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" commercial the other day where Mac claimed only PC's get viruses and how Mac is completely safe. It was a funny commercial PC was in a Hazmat suit. Only problem someone may try and sue Apple for false advertisment.

[chrisgay]

I'd be suprised if people sued Apple because they got a virus while trying to illegally download Apple's software :P

[chrisgay]

The fact is, although Macs are vulnerable to viruses and what not, its got to say something when the fact that a virus exists at all is considered "News". And to those saying that "Mac isn't virus proof, its just no one makes viruses for them", so what? I have a Mac and I don't get viruses- I love it.

[Quadrix]

Last I checked, Macs are compatible with Norton Anti-Virus, because the Macs at my school have Norton on each of them.