14 DAY TRIAL // In addition to confirming the upcoming availability of OS X Lion as a digital download through the Mac App Store, Apple has indirectly confirmed via the OS X 10.6.8 beta changelog that the Mac Defender scareware is getting patched with this eighth maintenance update for the Snow Leopard operating system.
The technology giant headquartered at 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California has recently issued its acknowledgement that Mac Defender poses a real threat to the Macintosh user base, in that it tricks them into paying for a bogus antivirus solution.
The company specifically stated that, “A recent phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus. The user is then offered Mac Defender ‘anti-virus’ software to solve the issue.”
Following countless reports from all over the world detailing the nature of the Mac Defender threat, Apple itself confirmed that “This ‘anti-virus’ software is malware (i.e. malicious software). Its ultimate goal is to get the user's credit card information which may be used for fraudulent purposes.”
Whether dubbed Mac Defender, Mac Protector or Mac Security, the malware was said to be patched in a matter of days, according to Apple’s May 24 post:
“In the coming days, Apple will deliver a Mac OS X software update that will automatically find and remove Mac Defender malware and its known variants,” the Mac maker said, yet the patch is nowhere in sight.
However, people who are privy to the latest OS X 10.6.8 betas have confirmed that Apple’s forthcoming incremental update to Snow Leopard indeed contains the patch.
It is yet unclear whether or not Apple will launch a dedicated standalone update targeting Mac Defender in the meanwhile.
For now, however, we have confirmation that the patch has been prepped for shipping, regardless of how Cupertino decides to administer it.
Minutes ago, we reported that a security researcher appears to have identified the brains behind Mac Defender and its variants. Those interested in getting the full scoop can read more here.