Virus alerts

New Piece of Malware Hits Mac OS X!

OSX_MACSWEEP.A spotted in the wild

By Bogdan Popa, Security and Search Engines Editor

21st of January 2008, 19:06 GMT

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Virus writers are always looking to exploit new vulnerable systems

Mac OS X was always described as a more secure alternative for Microsoft's Windows because most virus writers and hackers have focused on Windows infections, Trojan horses or other kinds of attacks. However, 2007 proved us that Mac OS X can be vulnerable as well, as a new type of threat was detected by security companies around the world. Today, a new report comes to support

the idea that Mac OS X is not as safe as we know it: OSX_MACSWEEP.A, a new Mac infection, has been spotted in the wild. Security vendor Trend Micro set a low damage potential and a low distribution potential, so extra-care should be enough to remain on the safe side.

According to the security company's report, this new piece of Mac OS X malware can be deployed once a user visits an infected webpage. However, it can also be installed by another infection that already exists on your computer, Trend Micro explains. "It may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component."

The Mac OS X infections have never been too dangerous and this one is pretty similar to its predecessors. Trend Micro informs that OSX_MACSWEEP.A was designed to remove certain software installed on an affected system. "Once it finishes scanning for so-called dangerous files in the system, users can choose to remove these in the system but a window prompts them to purchase a product."

That's right, it acts like a rogue security solution, just like the old-fashioned infections targeting the Windows operating systems. Usually, these threats installed on people's computers provide fake security alerts, informing the users that certain viruses, Trojans or worms, were found running in the memory. In order to be removed, the user has to buy the full version of the 'fake' application, which is obviously useless and doesn't really remove any infection.

TAGS:

security | apple | mac os x | malware

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