New Mac OS X malware - OSX_LAMZEV.A

@strey0123

LOL, I am in fact a Apple consumer and an OS X fan. Fact is, market share has an affect on which platforms malware writers target. Who would write malware for windows, even if it was easy, if Windows had 10% of the market? Much more effort would be put into targeting the OS most people use and thus where the real money is at.

Why don't you cool your hot head with a tall glass of kool-aid.

It's still a little disconcerting to find this on my system and have it come up and ask me if for the confirmation about running it... I just searched lamzev in spotlight and it came back with file in my cache from last night that implied it was downloaded via an engadget link when I visited their site last night... (I'm not saying I got it from there, because I could never prove it - but the url was theirs in the popup that came up)

Windows Malware/Viruses: Ninjas in the night come in through your many open windows, and steal everything without you knowing. They also kill your cat.

Mac Malware/Viruses: A man knocks on your door asking for a copy of your house keys, asking when you won't be home today, and if you wouldn't mind him being over. He assures you he is a good person.

In my opinion, an application that actually requires you to install it, asks which firewall port it can use, and doesn't attempt to hide its presence in the filesystem is not really malware..

The Windows malware situation is really bad because of the fact that many of the malicious spyware/virus applications exploit security holes in internet explorer (usually in the activeX layer), browser plugins, and other common apps/services so they can install themselves on to the system without user intervention ( "drive-by installation") other than perhaps visiting a rogue website.

Get use to it. Expect to see more maliciously crafted code targeting OS X and Mac users as time goes on and market share goes up.

Many of my files are private and require no root access to distribute should an application decide it wants to upload all my data to some obscure location. Don't be fooled that just because it requires no authenticated access that it cannot cause damage.

So, if this works with firewire ports new Macbook owners need not worry, eh?

I finally understand why Apple would literally spend millions in R&D to later abandon a technology that they not only created, but is loved by users. It all makes sense.

Wow. So you basically have to give just about anything access to your comp to allow this, then provide a valid port. All it does is put a file or two in app bundles too, which can just be removed with a shell script.

Epic Fail.

Hmmm.... I'm getting a Mac and now hearing about this :S
Oh well - still gonna get one!

I'll begin worrying as soon as you don't need to be completely computer illiterate to become infected.