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Apple Virus

Posted on 04/06/2012 7:03:59 PM PDT by TexasSecede79366

I know Macs are based on Unix so I'm very particular who has access to the root password. I'd also had an alpha version of CLAM.

The last access to my root was a version of Tux. (Remember Tux Racer in Linux?) but this was like Tux/Mario.
Shortly after playing the game my mouse went nuts,then my keyboard developed a mind of it's own.
I rebooted into "Bootcamp" and XP and it ran fine.

Long story longer,it was not a hardware problem but a software one. I pulled the network capability and it took almost an hour for the restoral CD to load.
I now have a nice shiny new install with all my data restored but WTF?
I love Linux but went to Macs because they're simple and my time is limited. Maybe I screwed up.

When I check out other Mac or Linux forums they say "No, but did you see the latest version of sally rotten crotch and her band of merry elves."

Some of the best IT minds in the business are here. Gotta clue?


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: imac
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1 posted on 04/06/2012 7:04:01 PM PDT by TexasSecede79366
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To: TexasSecede79366

is Santa taking a dump down a chimney ? I almost died laughing when a friend showed me that ,he was running Win2000


2 posted on 04/06/2012 7:08:03 PM PDT by molson209
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To: TexasSecede79366

Clue as to which OS is best? They all have weaknesses and the foremost one is the user.


3 posted on 04/06/2012 7:08:45 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: TexasSecede79366

Jeez, and here i am thinking that Macs.Just.Work.

At least that’s what the apple zealots tell me.

Buy a PC.
Unless you have the mentality of a 10 year old you should have no problem.

I.haven’t.since.1992


4 posted on 04/06/2012 7:22:28 PM PDT by mowowie
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To: driftdiver

But! But! It can’t be my fault! It’s that damn computer!


5 posted on 04/06/2012 7:23:12 PM PDT by TexasSecede79366
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To: TexasSecede79366

The thing nobody has talked about yet is that with viruses coming out for Macs it won’t be long before there are viruses for unix. A very high percentage of the servers on the web are running a unix flavor. None of them are running any anti-virus software.


6 posted on 04/06/2012 7:27:39 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: mowowie

In these times,I wish I had the mentality of a 10 yr old. They can program an Iphone in a flash.


7 posted on 04/06/2012 7:29:13 PM PDT by TexasSecede79366
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To: driftdiver

Unix is different from Windows and it’s disturbing coming from Linux variants like Ubuntu and others that are going to an Apple style. Hopefully Linus will continue to be himself.


8 posted on 04/06/2012 7:34:01 PM PDT by TexasSecede79366
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To: TexasSecede79366

It’s a generational thing. Think of all the befuddled parents letting their kids program the VCR, or the grandparents who just could never grasp the concept of “merge” with those newfangled interstate on ramps, they always stopped.

There’s nothing new about it to a ten year old, the world just works that way to them, nothing to relearn.


9 posted on 04/06/2012 7:37:19 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: TexasSecede79366

To the best of my knowledge there is no trojan/virus that self installs on osx without an admin password and no hack that doesn’t require LAN access. The current one (flashback) is a piece of , what I call trickware, that makes the user think they are installing Adobe Flash. We get to clicking pretty fast sometimes and don’t ponder what we are actually installing due to the comfort level we have had over the years with the mac. Times have changed, need to pay attention. Keep system up to date. Clam AV is ok but it needs to be kept updated as well. I run on static IP’s so no NAT to protect some of my machines so good firewall SW is necessary. I use Virus Barrier among others which has a customizable rule driven firewall and excellent virus /trojan protection. I keep a log open on all activity on the firewall and you would be amazed at how ofter you get probed by china, mexico, Middle east countries, SEA countries, Russia and hords of domestic sources. Other than tightly managed ports (default closed) I actively block over 2,500 IP’s adding new ones daily.

Nothing is bullet proof. My advise.. keep current os sys SW, a good AV and firewall scheme and close attention to what your clicking as a practice will keep you running clean and worry free... common sense for either a mac or PC


10 posted on 04/06/2012 7:42:07 PM PDT by Breto (The Establishment party is killing our country)
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To: TexasSecede79366
I've been arguing with mac nuts for 10 years right here on FR.

My point several years ago was that a serious hacker would not spend time to infect 25 or 30 computers.

...now, the number of mac's have become respectable, the low level hackers have attacked them...and when the "big boys" take aim, they will take out all macs.....

...if an OS can be built, it can be hacked.....and the more of them in use, the bigger target they make....

11 posted on 04/06/2012 7:44:22 PM PDT by B.O. Plenty (Elections have consequences....)
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To: driftdiver
Not really. Unlike Windows,where the system is root,Unix has the root user. Think a two lane path versus a 20 lane super highway. Servers get clogged up with windows garbage but Hello Bill Gates.

Back in the last millennium I used to dabble in the black arts. I'm shocked that the "script kiddies" are still around. I'm stone drunk and leaving after this post

12 posted on 04/06/2012 7:49:51 PM PDT by TexasSecede79366
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To: Breto

Thank you,brother. That was what I was looking for.


13 posted on 04/06/2012 7:58:00 PM PDT by TexasSecede79366
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To: TexasSecede79366

Occasionally files that are in memory become corrupted and can act up or make things appear to go haywire.

Solution: reboot.

That corrects many issues.

If the situation appears more suspicious, run your virus check.


14 posted on 04/06/2012 8:11:03 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: TexasSecede79366

Sophos has a free virus checker for OS X. Works very well, is lightweight, and provides me with peace of mind.


15 posted on 04/06/2012 8:35:42 PM PDT by JABit
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To: TexasSecede79366
Texas,

All bets are off in OSX when you are playing around with ROOT access. OSX is NOT designed for someone who has activated ROOT. OSX is designed for users working two levels below superuser level of ROOT and the protections are set up for that.

What were you doing playing a game with ROOT activated?

I believe, to get back to a truly clean Mac OSX install, you are going to have to low level format your drive and do your install. Sorry, but once you have allowed something other than the install disk to have ROOT access, your machine is compromised. There is no telling what was installed outside of the system files that may be affecting the install. Reformat.

16 posted on 04/06/2012 9:40:14 PM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: TexasSecede79366; ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; AFreeBird; Airwinger; ...
Freeper was using his Mac in ROOT... and was wanting some security advice. He thinks he may have gotten something nasty. Any advice?—PING!


Apple OSX Mac in ROOT security Ping!

Please, No Flame Wars!
Discuss technical issues, software, and hardware.
Don't attack people!
Don't respond to the Anti-Apple Thread Trolls!
PLEASE IGNORE THEM!!!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

17 posted on 04/06/2012 9:43:06 PM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: TexasSecede79366

Texas,

My suggestion is that if you want to play around with LINUX on your Mac get VMWare and install one of the good LINUX installs, UBUNTU or another good one, in a virtual machine, and play to your heart’s content, without compromising the UNIX install of the system. If it gets compromised, kick it to the curb and reinstall a new version. Boom, you are back in business in minutes. You can do the same with multiple versions of Windows. All you need is sufficient hard drive space, which is cheap enough these days.


18 posted on 04/06/2012 9:51:41 PM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: mowowie

I thought Macs always had a virus. Most of the time I used one some beach ball would start spinning in the middle of the screen and the mac would lock up.

Someone told me it was the mac beach ball of death virus but then a mac lover told me they never get a virus.

So confused. I was thinking of spending way more for a mac than a PC but if it can get a virus then why would I want to pay more for a computer.


19 posted on 04/06/2012 9:54:27 PM PDT by gunsequalfreedom (Conservative is not a label of convenience. It is a guide to your actions.)
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To: Swordmaker; TexasSecede79366
Hi Texas,

I absolutely second Swordmaker's advice:

> > My suggestion is that if you want to play around with LINUX on your Mac get VMWare and install one of the good LINUX installs, UBUNTU or another good one, in a virtual machine, and play to your heart’s content, without compromising the UNIX install of the system. If it gets compromised, kick it to the curb and reinstall a new version. Boom, you are back in business in minutes. You can do the same with multiple versions of Windows. All you need is sufficient hard drive space, which is cheap enough these days.
I'm a Unix System Admin, been working with Unix since around 1984, and run pretty much all flavors of stuff on Mac hardware these days at home -- OS-X of course, but also Windows7, WinXP, NetBSD, Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora (the latter two being RedHat variants), and some others... I do it at work to make a living and at home as a hobby. (Details here if you want 'em)

Leave your OS-X install unsullied, and mess with the VMs. For around $50-75 get a copy of VMware Fusion for your Mac and a big hard disk, and play to your heart's content!!

20 posted on 04/06/2012 10:05:18 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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