AppleToday, Landon Fuller posted a proof-of-concept exploit for an unpatched vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment currently in use by OS X. While this particular proof-of-concept is meant to be harmless, the vulnerability itself currently affects OS X, including OS X 10.5.7, the latest shipping version of OS X. This vulnerability could be exploited to perform “drive-by-downloads” commonly used as a means to infect computers with spyware, or any arbitrary command with the permissions of the executing user. All a user has to do is visit a web page hosting a malicious java applet to be exploited. Until Apple patches their implementation of Java, we recommend that users disable Java applets in their web browser.
May 19, 2009 •
2 min read
Mac OS XPosted: April 17th, 2009
The iServices Trojan Horse botnet first reported by SecureMac back in January has been activated. Users who have been infected are encouraged to download the iServices Trojan Horse Removal Tool, available for free at https://www.securemac.com/files/iServicesTrojanRemovalTool.dmg
Read more about the botnet at MacNN.
April 17, 2009 •
1 min read
AppleSecureMac Advisory
Posted: March 17th, 2009
Security Risk: Critical
Just after the DNSChanger 2.0d variant was identified, another new variant of the DNSChanger Trojan Horse, DNSChanger 2.0e, has been discovered in the wild. The trojan horse arrives in a disk image (some samples are called serial_Avid.Xpress.Pro.5.7.2.dmg), and is again disguised as an installer for “MacCinema,” just like the 2.0d variant. Once installed, the trojan horse behaves in a similar manner to past variants.
This variant is being distributed on websites offering “cracked” or pirated copies of software, and is initially disguised as a serial …
March 2, 2009 •
3 min read
Mac OS XPirated copies of Photoshop CS 4 has been reported by Intego to contain malware. On January 16th Photoshop CS 4 containing the malware was seeded to peer-2-peer servers. This trojan have been labeled as OSX.Trojan.iServices.B, the second variant of the trojan, the first discovered in iWork 09 pirated software. It is recommended not to download these files. Like its predecessor this variant obtains root privileges, and notifies the remote host of the infected computers location on the Internet.
January 26, 2009 •
1 min read
Mac OS XSecureMac has released a free tool to remove the iWorkServices Trojan Horse called iWorkServices Trojan Removal Tool. The trojan as reported by Intego (1/22/09) has been bundled with pirated copies of iWork 09.
January 23, 2009 •
1 min read
AppleSecurity Alert: A trojan is being distributed with pirated copies of Apple’s iWorks 09.
Pirated copies of iWorks 09 are being distributed with a trojan bundled in the installer package. Intego has released a warning recommending that users should not download iWorks 09 from pirate software sites.
The malicious software is installed in the startup items folders ( /System/Library/StartupItems/iWorkServices ) where it has full root privilege rights. Once installed the trojan connects to a remote server notifying it of the infected computers location on the net awaiting further instruction including the ability …
January 22, 2009 •
1 min read
AppleSecureMac Security Bulletin
Posted: December 17th, 2008
Security Risk: Critical
Halloween marked the one-year anniversary since the DNSChanger Trojan Horse was discovered in the wild, and in that time it has grown to become the single most widespread piece of malware on OS X. In order to promote safe web browsing, SecureMac has issued a bulletin on the DNSChanger Trojan Horse, with information on common symptoms of infection, ways to check for and remove the Trojan, and a list of safe practices when surfing the web.
Symptoms of Infection by DNSChanger Trojan Horse
Website …
December 17, 2008 •
3 min read
AppleLas Vegas, Nevada – SecureMac.com, an information security company known for its cutting edge security solutions and security website for Apple Macintosh computers, is pleased to announce it will be attending MacWorld Expo at the Moscone Center in San Fransisco from January 6-9, where it will be demonstrating the latest version of MacScan and answering security questions.
SecureMac will be showcasing its security software, as well as providing product discounts, booth raffles and security demonstrations at Booth 202 in the South Hall from January 6-9, at the Moscone Center, San Fransisco.
Clients …
December 5, 2008 •
3 min read
Mac OS XNew OS X Trojan Horse in the WildSecureMac Security Advisory
Security Risk: Critical
SecureMac has discovered multiple variants of a new Trojan horse in the wild that affects Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5. The Trojan horse is currently being distributed from a hacker website, where discussion has taken place on distributing the Trojan horse through iChat and Limewire. The source code for the Trojan horse has been distributed, indicating an increased probability of future variants of the Trojan horse.
The Trojan horse runs hidden on the system, and allows a malicious user …
June 7, 2008 •
3 min read
Mac ClassicAdvisory Title: Intego VirusBarrier X4 definition bypass exploit
Release Date: 2006 November 8
Affected Products: Intego VirusBarrier X4
Severity: Moderate
Where: Local System
Author: Kevin Finisterre
Fix: Bug Fixed Starting with 2006/11/01 Vdef files
Exploit: pwntego.tar.gz
Kevin Finisterre, a security researcher with digitalmunition.com has discovered and demonstrated a flaw in Intego VirusBarrier X4, an antivirus program for Macintosh computers. The “pwntego” exploit show how systems running Intego VirusBarrier X4 can lose their protection. Kevin discovered that the program suffered from a flaw related to the number of alerts it can process simultaneously.
Kevin saw that if an attacker is …
November 11, 2006 •
8 min read
AppleRecently, Mac OS X has been known to be vulnerable to many new remote exploits.
Theses exploits are allowing to remotely execute code on your computer when you surf a webpage. Most of the people reading about theses vulnerabilities often missunderstand or apprehend the impact it can have, for a user.
While many people will use Paranoid Android, from Unsanity, and it does protects you well, many don’t even know about the vulnerability in the first place. Theses can lead to the total erasement of your personal data (by erasing /Users/you), to …
May 8, 2004 •
4 min read
Mac OS XNotes & Warnings
Ability
If FileVault is enabled on an account, access to that account’s Public folder and Sites folder will not be available to anyone else, regardless if the user is logged in or not. So, if that user wishes to serve a website out of the Sites folder in their home folder, activating FileVault is would not be a viable option for him or her.
Stability
There have been several reports of people losing data with FileVault and various related errata under Mac OS X v10.3.0, but the 10.3.1 update along with …
November 16, 2003 •
5 min read