14 DAY TRIAL // The DNSChanger Trojan Horse, also known as OSX.RSPlug.A and OSX/Puper, has been found on numerous websites disguising itself as a video codec. Although it requires the user's involvement (download and install), DNSChanger “can lead to identity theft,” SecureMac says. To increase awareness among Mac users, the company has posted a new security notice, as well as its updated Trojan Removal Tool.
“Once downloaded and installed, DNSChanger changes the DNS settings on the computer, redirecting websites entered by the user to malicious sites,” SecureMac states.
“If personal information is entered on these malicious websites, it can lead to identity theft. [...] Halloween marked the one-year anniversary since the DNSChanger Trojan Horse was discovered in the wild, and in time it has grown to become the single most widespread piece of malware on OS X. In order to promote safe web browsing, SecureMac has issued a bulletin on the DNSChanger Trojan Horse, with information on common symptoms of infection, ways to check for and remove the Trojan, and a list of safe practices when surfing the web.”
To remove the DNSChanger Trojan Horse, SecureMac recommends its free removal tool, DNSChanger Trojan Removal Tool 2.0, available for free download using the link below this piece. A more powerful piece of software, called MacScan, allegedly deals with thousands of other trojan horses, keyloggers, and tracking cookies, in addition to removing the DNSChanger Trojan Horse.
However, users must first check for symptoms of infection by DNSChanger Trojan Horse. These and some advice on safe web browsing habits can be found in the full bulletin here.
“Due to the nature of installation in tricking the user as well as changing the information requested with altered data DNSChanger Trojan Horse is considered a trojan horse as well as spyware,” SecureMac stresses. “DNSChanger Trojan Horse has evolved over time with the functionality to now execute malicious code downloaded from remote servers,” the security firm adds. “This increases the severity of the threat,” according to the makers of the DNSChanger Trojan Removal Tool.