Leapin' lizards! Apple Mac Virus

Dudley · 17 February, 2006, 10:03:09 PM

Thought y'all Mac users might appreciate the heads-up.

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4723390.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4723390.stm

Bart Oliver · 17 February, 2006, 10:07:07 PM

++ ..only version 10.4 of OS X is vulnerable to it. ++

Still using 10.2, cheap skate that ur'am.

longmanshort · 17 February, 2006, 10:31:55 PM

The malicious program, known as Leap-A, tries to spread via Apple's iChat instant messaging program.

Which I don't use, so now panic yet. But I am worried if virus writers are now turning their attention to Macs ...

Bart Oliver · 17 February, 2006, 10:43:07 PM

It was always going to be a problem once Apple started using unix..

OS 9.2 was the last operating system that could be considered *vertually* virus free.

But this is only because apparently no one could be bothered to code viruses for it.

Matt Timson · 17 February, 2006, 10:49:38 PM

The "Macs don't get viruses" brigade don't help. Talk about red flag to a bull...

LARF · 17 February, 2006, 11:17:18 PM

who the f**k has the time to use ichat though?

If that's the only way they can get the horse through the gates, then my stable is firmly shut and my chaps hung up with my stetson.

(damn this blasted cowboy themed hoofnanny buggery it's got me all metaphorical and brokeback mountainish but in a straight way...)

IndigoPrime · 17 February, 2006, 11:20:35 PM

First, this isn't a virus -- it's a piece of malware. Secondly, it doesn't exploit any weakness in the OS -- it's a piece of so-called "social engineering" (in other words, it requires the user to perform actions in order for the "virus" to work -- something no OS can safeguard against). Thirdly, this isn't actually the first case of this on OS X anyway.

Ultimately, I don't think it makes any odds. If another 100,000 cases show up in the next month, fair enough, but OS X as it stands is still significantly safer than Windows out of the box, and even after this attempt at being a shit by someone.

Matt Timson · 17 February, 2006, 11:40:29 PM

Shhhh- stop saying things like that- the freaks will hear you and want to prove you wrong!

Buddy · 18 February, 2006, 12:56:12 AM

Welcome to the real world.

Matt Timson · 18 February, 2006, 01:40:30 AM

Ah, Umpty- if only I knew what you were talking about...

LARF · 18 February, 2006, 02:01:49 AM