Flashback Trojan hits Macs

[Rico]

Ok, Mac users make sure you don't have a trojan on your computer.  And I don't mean the kind of trojan that comes in a little packet.  :)

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2402641,00.asp

[QuadShot]

And WHY should computer virus writers NOT be prosecuted to the fullest? No BS on this. In MHO, if they write and launch a malicious virus, treat them as terrorists. Talk about drawing a line in the sand...a deep, deep line MUST be drawn. I'm sick and tired of worrying that some jack wad is going to exploit something and ruin my system. Don't know about you guys, but I don't have money laying around to replace MY stuff that some dumb a$$ kid destroys.

[Jobydrone]

How do you know if you're infected, and what's the risk involved?

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Woah there Quad, where did that come from o_O.  And actually, if they get caught they do get sentenced pretty heavy.  Heck, just saw an article about a hacker from London get thrown in jail for quite a few years for stealing data. 

So they do get prosecuted. 

King

[davekill]

Bummer :(
More info and links that might be helpful in diagnosing this threat.
http://gizmodo.com/5899352/mac-flashback-trojan-find-out-if-youre-one-of-the-600000-infected

[QuadShot]

Well King, it comes from the fact for for too many years, society has excused these little dorks as "silly little pranksters" and now, well now we're at a point where they're going to be hard to deter. Yes, I know...if someone is going to do it, it'll be done. But you know what? I'm tired of MY stuff being destroyed, or having to spend $100's upon $100's on repairing the damage some stupid puds virus creates. That's part of the reason I switched to Mac. I know that Mac isn't completely immune, but it WAS at least much safer, until now. Now this sort of crap story will inspire a whole new bunch of J-Jon wipes to begin working furiously on something that WILL cripple Macs. And to me that's BS. I'm totally tired of butt wipes getting bored and destroying other peoples hard earned stuff. What gives them the right to design something that is harmful? Hmm, to me, that's not much different than someone jumping on a soapbox and complaining about the "WMD" creators being evil. Same concept really. A stupid computer virus has the potential to destroy on a HUGE scale...

[Jobydrone]

thanks Dave

[QuadShot]

thanks for posting that Dave. I'll of course check mine and Joyce's when we get home. Pray to the Almighty our systems are clean...

[billybob476]

Checked my MBP, clean!

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Even if society had treated them as harshly as you say they should have, it wouldn't have detered them.  The only thing that could have would be to not use technology.  I mean, we harshly punish theifs and yet we still have them in the world today.  I'm just saying, this was inevitale and until humans as a whole change, it will remain.  Not defending hackers, just saying that I'm apparently jaded lol. 

King

[QuadShot]

Even if society had treated them as harshly as you say they should have, it wouldn't have detered them.  The only thing that could have would be to not use technology.  I mean, we harshly punish theifs and yet we still have them in the world today.  I'm just saying, this was inevitale and until humans as a whole change, it will remain.  Not defending hackers, just saying that I'm apparently jaded lol. 

King

No, not inevitable at all. Inevitable means something completely unavoidable, and that's not true. Computer viruses ARE avoidable if pin heads would just NOT create them. It's not like they NEED to create something so destructive King. They DON'T. And it's like saying, why make tax evasion illegal? Humans are just going cheat the IRS anyway? It's human nature? Well, by being harsh, it will deter some, and give law enforcement an awesome tool for dealing with those who continue. There comes a time when things get SO expensive (gas, food, tech), like now in our lives, that something HAS to be done about those who are willing to take things away from us merely because they can, and want to. Well guess what? I WANT a brand new iPad. Should I go break into an Apple Store and take one? No. Some pin headed jack wad who designs a killer computer virus and unleashes that terror on the world IS taking something away from others he/she has NO RIGHT to take away at all. So yes, I think you all know where I stand on this issue since we've "debated" over this topic many, many, many times. And to be completely honest, I cannot see any reasonable defense against not treating these parasites as terrorists at all. Second chances? Nope. Why? Someone crashes my computer, one that I use for my business and podcasting and stuff, and I lose EVERYTHING, and have to pay thousands to replace the system, and of course will NEVER get those photos, audio files, work video files, etc back. And I'm supposed to be ok with giving the little muncher a second chance because he "made a mistake" B....S....!

And for the record, no, this has not happened to me...yet.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I'm not defending these guys at all.  I'm just wondering how we can prevent these crimes from happening in the first place, as you seem to suggest that we have a way of doing that but haven't implemented it for x reason. 

King

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I mean, besides the obvious don't do criminal activity.  It would be great if everyone did, but.....yeah....

King

[Jobydrone]

For those like me that were more than a little baffled by the concole commands needed to check for the virus infestation on your Macs, here's a great tool designed to help you diagnose if you are infected.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2012/04/checking-for-mac-flashback-infestation-theres-an-app-for-that.ars

[QuadShot]

Thanks Joby. I actually did all that console command stuff and my system was clean. "This house is...CLEAN!" But I'll use your link to check my wife's computer.