Mac OS X Trojan discovered in pirated software downloads.

Rameses

Rameses

Rameses

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There's a new Trojan virus in the wild targeting OS X users that steals GPU cycles to produce bitcoins, takes screenshots in an effort to steal personal information, and runs scripts that copy, among other things, your Safari history and .bash_history. This bit of malware, dubbed DevilRobber, was discovered in a BitTorrent download of GraphicConverter 7.4 from the Pirate Bay; there haven't been reports of it showing up in other BitTorrent downloads yet. The virus' most noticeable symptom is that your computer feels extra sluggish from DevilRobber using your GPU, so if your machine in inexplicably slow, it might be worth checking out some of the free OS X anti-virus programs, such as ClamXav and Sophos.
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Link: http://www.theverge.com/2011/11/1/2529256/devilrobber-mac-os-x-trojan-virus

Just a heads up if you have downloaded that program. :)
 
philip2009 said:
The modern Mac user should be running anti-virus however apparently low the current risk is.
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:confused:

Don't use duff stuff any you'll be fine - with a bit of common sense and a decent firewall.

Been using macs for years like this and never had an issue - this is the same reaction as the one in iWork (? iirc) last year - nothing has appeared out in the open on its own, always from torrents

*I stand to be correct here(!) ;)
 
It's bound to happen every so often. Anyone that thinks they are safe from viruses because they have a Mac are deluded. It only takes one virus like this on a file share site and it can spread like wildfire.

So many people I know don't use virus protection on Macs because they are under the illusion there aren't any viruses targeting them...though ironically the majority of people I speak to about antivirus software are the older generation who are overly paranoid about people stealing their stuff!
 
dav3evans said:
It's bound to happen every so often. Anyone that thinks they are safe from viruses because they have a Mac are deluded. It only takes one virus like this on a file share site and it can spread like wildfire.

So many people I know don't use virus protection on Macs because they are under the illusion there aren't any viruses targeting them...though ironically the majority of people I speak to about antivirus software are the older generation who are overly paranoid about people stealing their stuff!
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We are pretty safe though. I downloaded a virus scan the other day after seeing this and I had no issues bar a couple of emails that had already been dealt with.

I did it because my virtual machine of windows 7 was doing some shady stuff when I was using sopcast software and I wondered if I had got an issue but it seems fine.

If you are downloading lots of dodgy things then yes, you can expect to have issues at some point but I doubt you will ever find a system that is completely secure regardless of how stupid the user is.
 
dav3evans said:
It's bound to happen every so often. Anyone that thinks they are safe from viruses because they have a Mac are deluded. It only takes one virus like this on a file share site and it can spread like wildfire.

So many people I know don't use virus protection on Macs because they are under the illusion there aren't any viruses targeting them...though ironically the majority of people I speak to about antivirus software are the older generation who are overly paranoid about people stealing their stuff!
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Right, because a trojan that requires your username and password to install it means we require anti-virus.

Just FYI, I don't run anything on windows either (apart from Windows defender now in W7) and funnily enough after 10 years I've never got anything.

Funny that...
 
Concorde Rules said:
Right, because a trojan that requires your username and password to install it means we require anti-virus.

Just FYI, I don't run anything on windows either (apart from Windows defender now in W7) and funnily enough after 10 years I've never got anything.

Funny that...
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If you've never run anything on windows how do you know? Just because you don't have problems doesn't mean there isn't viruses or malware etc..in there. The point of a lot of them is to collect data without disturbing you or your experience while using the hardware.

The mere fact you don't run anything completely invalidates your point.

An as for the "needing your username and password" thing - you have to enter it to do/install a lot of things so its bound to be entered at some point.

An besides all of this, it's only targeted at people who download Torrents and random software, if you don't do that ofc you probably won't have any. If you do..you're deluded in thinking you've never had something on your computer in the past 10 years.
 
dav3evans said:
An as for the "needing your username and password" thing - you have to enter it to do/install a lot of things so its bound to be entered at some point.
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If I want to install a piece of software it will want a username / password. Personally I don't do that unless I want to install the software. If you are downloading dodgy software then yes you might get infected but it will have been your own fault entirely.

Its like claiming a house is not secure if you invite criminals to come in and have a look around when you are not in.

"I have found this great way to install dodgy software on a mac, it just requires the user to install it and ok it. Cutting edge."
 
dav3evans said:
It's bound to happen every so often. Anyone that thinks they are safe from viruses because they have a Mac are deluded. It only takes one virus like this on a file share site and it can spread like wildfire.

!
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most mac users will NOT be pirating programs.... at lleast none that I know would even know what file sharing was...
 
Having to enter your user and password is perfectly fine. It's not like they are saying its asking for credentials to install a virus is it, its hidden in an actual piece of software..and with it being hidden unsuspecting leechers that download free stuff will therefore enter their details and be none the wiser.

@edsck - Fair point. A lot of Mac users don't install pirate software, most of the people I know with them are professionals or casual users with no need for it. In the same vain though, if there wasn't a need for it then certain websites wouldn't exist.
 
dav3evans said:
If you've never run anything on windows how do you know? Just because you don't have problems doesn't mean there isn't viruses or malware etc..in there. The point of a lot of them is to collect data without disturbing you or your experience while using the hardware.

The mere fact you don't run anything completely invalidates your point.

An as for the "needing your username and password" thing - you have to enter it to do/install a lot of things so its bound to be entered at some point.

An besides all of this, it's only targeted at people who download Torrents and random software, if you don't do that ofc you probably won't have any. If you do..you're deluded in thinking you've never had something on your computer in the past 10 years.
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During my XP days I had the system running 12 processes when everything was closed [note, well aware of process take-over], so I knew immediately if something new was in town.

On top of that, before I reinstalled my OS I installed and ran AV, just to double check. Funnily enough, I never found anything.

Not looking at dodgy websites + not opening random attachments + not downloading dodgy stuff = never had a problem.

When a virus/trojan/whatever can get onto my computer without installing a username and password then I might care.

Sensible computer use >>>> AV which is NOT 100% perfect either...
 
Concorde Rules said:
Sensible computer use >>>> AV which is NOT 100% perfect either...
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Very true point, they can never fully protect against anything. From the sounds of it though you're one of the probable minority in terms of "sensible computer use"...a lot of people these days tend not to be so careful.

Also, although you mention the whole accessing your computer without a username or password, in the case of this trojan it is buried in a software installer, and with it being a downloaded one your use of computers does make that irrelevant on your part, but again, I'd imagine for every one person that uses their computers as you do, there are a thousand others that are either just not as careful, or simply don't care.

I'll admit I'm the latter, if there is something I need to find I won't really pay attention to where I end up to get the information I need, I'd rather let AV software do the job of trying to pick up any infected files or malware.

It's not 100% sure, but I'd rather get on with using it than constantly looking at a processes window, especially these days when there are many more than 12 processes running!
 
Hxc said:
The modern PC user doesn't need to use a dedicated anti virus, so a mac user certianly doesn't need to.
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What makes you say that? Because the OS is so advanced these days it can take care of itself...

It depends what people are doing.. "modern users" is a crock. It's down to how the user behaves, what they download, sites they visit etc... there is no blanket answer to say whether someone does or doesn't need anti virus software.
 
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