SecurityYou’ve probably heard the tech jargon for malware before, but how exactly does a Trojan horse fit inside your computer? And what kind of cookie could possibly be bad? Discover what these names really mean and how they affect our Macs.
March 5, 2014 • 1 min read
Security
Security
SecurityUpdated: February 12, 2014
OSX/CoinThief has been distributed under four different names so far: BitVanity, StealthBit, Bitcoin Ticker TTM, and Litecoin Ticker.
BitVanity and StealthBit were distributed on Github, while Bitcoin Ticker TTM and Litecoin Ticker were distributed on Download.com and MacUpdate.com. Both app names appear to have been taken from legitimate apps in the Mac App Store. The malicious payload was not found in Mac App Store copies of these apps.
When run, the malware installs a browser extension in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, which will appear in those apps as "Pop-Up …
February 9, 2014 • 4 min read
SecurityMalware: OSX/CoinThief.A
Date Discovered: February 9th, 2014
Updated: February 13, 2014
Added: Feb 13th 2014: Wednesday evening, Apple updated XProtect to defend against the two known variants of OSX/CoinThief.
SecureMac has more information on how the CoinThief malware is initially installed on infected systems, with steps it takes to disguise its behavior:
The malware is taking the place of the main binary in the trojanized versions of Bitcoin Ticker TTM and Litecoin Ticker, and is set up to run as an agent with a setting for LSUIElement in the Info.plist file. This makes it so …
February 9, 2014 • 6 min read
SecuritySecureMac has released PrivacyScan 1.5, offering privacy protection for Mac users. The latest version of the critically acclaimed personal privacy application is designed specifically for Mac OS X, adding features to securely wipe digital footprints left after using the computer and accessing the Internet. In this latest release, PrivacyScan will notify Google Chrome and Chromium users when their browser is configured to sync with Google’s servers, which can restore erased data. PrivacyScan will also add the capability to clean open windows in many popular apps.
PrivacyScan has added alerts to notify …
January 11, 2014 • 3 min read
SecuritySecureMac has announced the release of PrivacyScan 1.4. The latest version of its critically acclaimed personal privacy application is designed specifically for Mac OS X Mavericks, adding features to securely wipe digital footprints left behind after using the computer and accessing the Internet. Because this latest release is engineered for Apple’s latest operating system (Mac OS X 10.9), it can adapt to the new technology to ensure advanced security by seeking and destroying privacy threats attempting exploit the latest Mac OS version.
In an interview, CEO Nicholas Raba stated:
“Online privacy is …
November 15, 2013 • 3 min read
SecuritySecureMac’s award winning PrivacyScan software can now be downloaded in volume by schools, businesses and other organizations via the Apple Volume Purchase Program. Prior to last month, bulk purchasing software license keys was only an option for Apple software products such as GarageBand and iMovie. It is now open to all software developers creating apps and other products for iOS or OSX.
The PrivacyScan software is referred to by many as a “personal privacy clean up utility.” It scans the hard drive for information that could lead to hidden privacy threats, …
November 12, 2013 • 3 min read
SecurityFor immediate release October 18, 2013
Summary: SecureMac continues its work to raise awareness of online privacy issues with the release of an internet cookie infographic. The aim is educate and dispel common misunderstandings about the nature of cookies and what they mean for consumer privacy.
SecureMac, creator of the critically acclaimed consumer privacy software, PrivacyScan, continues its initiative to raise awareness of online privacy issues with the release of an infographic to help people understand internet cookies.
The PrivacyScan cookie infographic aims to educate Internet surfers, allowing them to make more informed …
October 18, 2013 • 2 min read
SecurityThe links for many popular Mac apps on CNET’s download.com have been replaced with a “CNET installer” that installs toolbar adware and changes browser settings. This guide shows how to identify affected apps, how to avoid the toolbar installer, how to determine if it has been installed on your system, and how to remove it if so.
Adware can be a threat to user privacy, and is used to track a user’s browsing habits online. For example, the permissions for one of the Google Chrome extensions shows what these toolbars can …
October 13, 2013 • 4 min read
SecurityUpdate (10/29/13 12:15pm): SecureMac has prepared a guide to help users identify and remove the adware being distributed by CNET’s download.com in place of popular Mac apps. The guide provides detailed information, including step-by-step instructions to determine if the adware is installed on your system, and the steps to remove it. View CNet Adware Identification and Removal Guide for Mac OS X.
Direct download links for a variety of popular Mac software products have been replaced on CNET’s Download.com with installers for browser toolbars, commonly used by adware to track user …
October 13, 2013 • 2 min read
SecuritySecureMac has released an update to PrivacyScan that includes new support for Opera 15 and the Chromium web browser, bug fixes, an improved user interface, reduction in price and a 15-day free trial. PrivacyScan is available for a limited time for 7.99 from the Mac App Store and direct from the PrivacyScan site. This is a free update for existing PrivacyScan users — please see upgrade instructions for Mac App Store purchases and SecureMac purchases.
July 26, 2013 • 1 min read
SecuritySummary: SecureMac has released an update to its multiple award-winning (details below) PrivacyScan software that includes new support for Opera 15 and the Chromium web browser, bug fixes, an improved user interface, reduction in price and a 15-day free trial.
As various legal debates regarding Internet consumer privacy rage on, SecureMac, the leading authority on Apple Macintosh security, has released the v1.3 update to its critically acclaimed PrivacyScan software. In addition to the usability updates (including new support for Opera 15 and Chromium), the software is now available directly from the …
July 26, 2013 • 3 min read
SecurityWe’ve all heard the term ‘cookie’ used in the context of web browsers, and while we enjoy the warm, delicious connotation they bring to mind, do we really know what one is? How are cookies used by websites to provide customization and personalization? How are cookies used by third-party advertisers to track you across the internet?
July 24, 2013 • 5 min read
SecurityJune 27, 2013 – SecureMac, the leading provider in Mac OS X security and privacy, announced today that PrivacyScan 1.2 has added a new demo option and purchasing option for users. PrivacyScan, recently nominated for Best Consumer Software for the 18th Annual Macworld Awards, is now aiming to extend its positive consumer experience to all users.
PrivacyScan works by searching for known applications that leave files on your computer which could lead to the exposure of your most private and confidential information. PrivacyScan offers a variety of choices for cleaning, from …
June 27, 2013 • 3 min read
SecuritySecureMac announced today that PrivacyScan, the online and offline privacy application to seek and destroy privacy threats while clearing up valuable hard disk space, has been nominated for Macworld UK’s 2013 award in the Best Consumer Software category. PrivacyScan made the shortlist for the 18th annual Macworld UK awards ‘Best Consumer Software’ category ranking with 10 of the industry’s leading software titles. Winners will be announced at the award ceremony the evening of June 20, 2013, at The Royal Garden Hotel in London.
June 18, 2013 • 1 min read
SecurityWe created an infographic to help show an assortment of statistics highlighting the changes in both mobile OS popularity and the malware that associated with each over the past three years. In addition, many different events occurred in 2012 that show the different ways in which Cyber Espionage has evolved through mobile. Kaspersky Labs provided some of the statistics and key information that make up this infographic. Their original article is a fantastic, but technical read that I suggest you check out here:
SecuritySecureMac announces the release of PrivacyScan 1.2, a specialized app to seek and destroy privacy threats for the Mac, now available in the Mac App Store. PrivacyScan is a utility designed for people who value privacy and want to keep their online and offline experiences to themselves. PrivacyScan has been met with critical acclaim, including being awarded Best of Show for Macworld | iWorld by Macworld UK, Editor’s Choice Award — Macworld UK, Mac Gem for Macworld GemFest 2012, a 5 Mouse Rating from Macworld UK, 5/5 Mice from Macworld …
March 26, 2013 • 1 min read
Security
Security5 Easy Tips to Keep Your Mac Secure in 2013 has been published and is now available for immediate implementation to help keep you secure this New Year! Which methods are you already using and how do you rank?
January 8, 2013 • 3 min read