[johnzoidberg]

How important is this really? I am a .Mac member, so I do get one as a perk, but how is this necessary on the Mac platform?

[gorickey]

I've never used one myself; however, the threat of bad Mac viruses seem to be growing so who knows when it could be very beneficial...

[cpac]

it just depends how paranoid you are.

There are currently no known Mac OS X viruses, so you can argue that you really don't need any anti-virus software. (This is how I personally feel.)

That said, there's always a first, and the fact that many Mac users feel so safe not using anti-virus software, may make them an easy target for a future hacker. If this really concerns you, you should go ahead and use some anti-virus software.

[Kenstee]

Originally posted by johnzoidberg:
How important is this really? I am a .Mac member, so I do get one as a perk, but how is this necessary on the Mac platform?

"From Macnn:

Intego warns of Trojan Horse for OS X, offers update ...
Intego today said it released an updated virus definitions for Intego VirusBarrier to protect Mac users against the first Trojan horse that affects Mac OS X. This Trojan horse, MP3Concept (MP3Virus.Gen), exploits a weakness in Mac OS X where applications can appear to be other types of files: "The Trojan horse's code is encapsulated in the ID3 tag of an MP3 (digital music) file. This code is in reality a hidden application that can run on any Macintosh computer running Mac OS X. Intego says the malicious application can delete files, propogate itself by sending a message to other users, and also infect other MP3, JPEG, GIF or QuickTime files"


Pretty sketchy details. Is this real? A way for Intego to sell some product? Or the start of OS X viruses?

[fritzair]

Just checked the ID tags of my most recent mp3's. I did not see anything out of the ordinary in any file. I have been getting these strange bounces back from comcast saying my email has a virus hidden in the attachment, but they are emails which I never sent. Not even my address.

[cowicide]

Originally posted by Kenstee:
"From Macnn:

Intego warns of Trojan Horse for OS X, offers update ...
Pretty sketchy details. Is this real? A way for Intego to sell some product? Or the start of OS X viruses?

Yeah, it's benign at the moment, but Apple need to address this NOW.

[Synotic]

Originally posted by Kenstee:
"From Macnn:

Intego warns of Trojan Horse for OS X, offers update ...
Intego today said it released an updated virus definitions for Intego VirusBarrier to protect Mac users against the first Trojan horse that affects Mac OS X. This Trojan horse, MP3Concept (MP3Virus.Gen), exploits a weakness in Mac OS X where applications can appear to be other types of files: "The Trojan horse's code is encapsulated in the ID3 tag of an MP3 (digital music) file. This code is in reality a hidden application that can run on any Macintosh computer running Mac OS X. Intego says the malicious application can delete files, propogate itself by sending a message to other users, and also infect other MP3, JPEG, GIF or QuickTime files"


Pretty sketchy details. Is this real? A way for Intego to sell some product? Or the start of OS X viruses?

Code within an MP3's ID3 tag?... I call BS.. I could be wrong but I'd like to see some more evidence.

[VEGAN]

Originally posted by Synotic:
Code within an MP3's ID3 tag?... I call BS.. I could be wrong but I'd like to see some more evidence.

No no. As far as I understand the idea is that you can make a Carbon application (trojan) and name it someSong.mp3 and if someone click on it, well, it acticates the program. In other words, you can "hide" a program by using a mp3 icon.

To make it harder to detect, this program contains a mp3 so you can play it in iTunes.

However, as people have noted: if you look at the file in column's view it's not listed as mp3 but as an application.