More than 600,000 Macs infected with Flashback botnet

ViN86 · 04-05-12, 11:20 AM

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-574.../?tag=mncol;1n

Quote:

More than half a million Macs are infected with the Flashback Trojan, a malware package designed to steal personal information, according to a Russian antivirus company.

The company -- Dr. Web -- originally reported today that 550,000 Macintosh computers were infected by the growing Mac botnet. But later in the day, Dr. Web malware analyst Sorokin Ivan announced on Twitter that the number of Macs infected with Flashback had increased to 600,000, with 274 of those based in Cupertino, Calif.

More than half of the Macs infected are in the United States (57 percent), while another 20 percent are in Canada, Dr. Web said.

The malware was initially found in September 2011 masquerading as a fake Adobe Flash Player plug-in installer, but in the past few months it has evolved to exploiting Java vulnerabilities to target Mac systems. A new variant that surfaced over the weekend appears to be taking advantage of Java vulnerability for which Apple released a patch yesterday.

As CNET blogger Topher Kessler explains, simply visiting a malicious Web site containing Flashback on an OS X system with Java installed will result in one of two installation routes. The malware will request an administrator password, and if one is supplied, it will install its package of code into the Applications folder. If a password is not offered, the malware will install to the user accounts where it can run in a more global manner.

Once installed, the Flashback will inject code into Web browsers and other applications like Skype to harvest passwords and other information from those program's users.

Security company F-Secure has published instructions on how to determine whether a Mac is infected with Flashback.

Updated at 6:45 p.m. to correct that a patch is available.

How to tell if you're infected:

http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/troj...shback_i.shtml

Update available for Java vulnerability too.

**Rakeesh** · 04-06-12, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViN86

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-574.../?tag=mncol;1n

How to tell if you're infected:

http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/troj...shback_i.shtml

Update available for Java vulnerability too.

Damn that means like every mac in the US is infected.

Johnny C · 04-06-12, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakeesh

Damn that means like every mac in the US is infected.

Yep

**Shamrock** · 04-06-12, 09:23 PM

Oh no you di'n juss talk about Apple like that! six storm will be in yo face like, worms in an apple.

six_storm · 04-09-12, 07:09 AM

Redeemed · 04-09-12, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by six_storm

What's amatter six?

six_storm · 04-09-12, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redeemed

What's amatter six?

Wait a minute . . . I didn't post that. Maybe "tH3 v1RuS" did it!

MY MAC IS INFECTED OMGWTFBBQHELPMEVINANDRAKEESH!!!111elevenoneone

(nah just poking fun at the Mac haters)

Redeemed · 04-09-12, 10:18 AM

Well with all the prior talk of Mac OS being superior security was, and impossible to infect they've kinda' brought this on themselves. I work with a young guy that, is very knowledgeable only he's bought into the BS of Macs not being able to catch a virus. I hate talking to him because he's so patently biased in favor of Macs. It's rather irritating.

six_storm · 04-09-12, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redeemed

Well with all the prior talk of Mac OS being superior security was, and impossible to infect they've kinda' brought this on themselves. I work with a young guy that, is very knowledgeable only he's bought into the BS of Macs not being able to catch a virus. I hate talking to him because he's so patently biased in favor of Macs. It's rather irritating.

Any OS can get a virus, but let's just call a duck a duck. Windows is the more popular OS out of them all and therefore it's a larger target. To hear a Mac getting a virus on NVNews is just loserbait/haterbait. Glad some people feel "accomplished" around here lol. And yes, I said haterbait. I'm so going to patent it.

HATERBAIT!

ViN86 · 04-09-12, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by six_storm

Any OS can get a virus, but let's just call a duck a duck. Windows is the more popular OS out of them all and therefore it's a larger target. To hear a Mac getting a virus on NVNews is just loserbait/haterbait. Glad some people feel "accomplished" around here lol. And yes, I said haterbait. I'm so going to patent it.

HATERBAIT!

My post was informative, with a link on how to tell if you're infected, and it states that there is already an update. You don't have to rush to Apple's defense every two seconds. They **** up like MS does. All companies do.

six_storm · 04-09-12, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViN86

My post was informative, with a link on how to tell if you're infected, and it states that there is already an update. You don't have to rush to Apple's defense every two seconds. They **** up like MS does. All companies do.

Thanks Vin, your post was informative.

I still like making some fun around here.

ViN86 · 04-09-12, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by six_storm

Thanks Vin, your post was informative.

I still like making some fun around here.

"Deal with it" dog brings understanding to any situation.

04-06-12, 09:23 PM	#4
Shamrock Royalty gone awry Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,597	Re: More than 600,000 Macs infected with Flashback botnet Oh no you di'n juss talk about Apple like that! six storm will be in yo face like, worms in an apple. __________________ They're after me Lucky Charms! AMD Phenom II 955BE 16GB G.Skill Sniper DDR3 1333Mhz Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 Logitech Z-5300 5.1 THX surround sound HANNS-G 28" LCD ZBoard Merc Gaming Keyboard CoolerMaster HAF-932 Full Tower Case Windows 7 Pro x64

04-09-12, 07:09 AM	#5
six_storm Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Nashvegas Posts: 11,575	Re: More than 600,000 Macs infected with Flashback botnet

04-09-12, 10:18 AM	#8
Redeemed Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 17,986	Re: More than 600,000 Macs infected with Flashback botnet Well with all the prior talk of Mac OS being superior security was, and impossible to infect they've kinda' brought this on themselves. I work with a young guy that, is very knowledgeable only he's bought into the BS of Macs not being able to catch a virus. I hate talking to him because he's so patently biased in favor of Macs. It's rather irritating.