(no subject)

[tree_and_leaf]

Does anyone know of a reliable and cheap or (even better, free - hey, I'm a student!) program that will detect spyware or malware for the Mac (should such things exist - the spyware, I mean).†

I just had an odd experience while trying to open a page at the Leaky Cauldron, and got a pop-up window which appeared to be inviting me to download a program to scrub all the evidence of 'adult pages' and movies I'd looked at (hah!), purely out of the goodness of the manufacturer's heart, becaues they were concerned to save my marriage and possibly keep me out of the dock. Now, even if I did have a bad conscience due to perusing dubious internet material, I wouldn't be that stupid.

I was, however, slightly concerned by the fact that clicking 'no' to get rid of the dialogue box (it was a dialogue box, and not a window), brought up another dialogue box, this time only with one button, marked 'ok', and I eventually had to force-quit in order to get rid of it. Should I be concerned?

† I do run - university mandated - anti-virus software, i.e. Sophos. I don't entirely trust it, but have been relying on the fact that Mac OS is safe (because writers of nasties usually can't be bothered with such a small market). But I'm beginning to wonder if that's still true.

Comments

[snorkackcatcher]

Definitely a dialogue box, not a browser window tricked up to look like one with the control buttons etc removed? In the latter case, they can come with bits of Javascript which open new windows every time you close them down or click on what look like ordinary buttons.

[tree_and_leaf]

Hm. I was fairly sure it was a dialogue box, because the computer made its usual error alert when I clicked anything on other Safari windows, and Safari refused to quit, which is more consistent with an open dialogue box than just a window.

However, I suppose it is more likely to be a hoax/ practical joke/ "Let's worry the techincally clueless" than anything more malign...

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Have you tried disabling pop-up windows? It's under the 'Safari' menu on the top left corner if you've got Safari open.

Hi, by the way. ;) I've seen you on various communities and commenting on assorted entries from my friendslist and thought I'd add you, if you don't mind.

[tree_and_leaf]

That's probably worth doing. And friend away - I've just found 'Be all my Secrets Remembered', and have been greatly enjoying it.

[hatster-catster.livejournal.com]

I'll ask at work to see what the Mac-using techies use. But I know the type of pop-up you mean and in my experience they haven't succeeded in putting anything onto my computer if you force-quit.

[hatster-catster.livejournal.com]

Hi,

Here's the full message from our Mac-user - I'm not sure if you'll be able to see the link he gives as it may be our University only, or it may let you in from other Universities.

Hope this helps!

Hatster

The University support Virex for Mac OS X. There recommendations are given succinctly here:

http://www-tus.csx.cam.ac.uk/virus/Macdownload.html

To be honest though, Virex has ebbed and flowed and not always kept up with the latest versions of the OS. In fact, until you asked this question it hadn't occurred to me that they might have actually upgraded it for Intel based Macs - I see from the above that they have. I don't think I'm unusual in not bothering too much with the Mac anti-virus market and if I had to pay for it I think I would just give it a miss altogether. The best reason for installing it is probably compliance with some directive that says all PCs must have anti-virus software installed.

Still, according to the web somebody found a virus for OS X in February (none since) but if you read the fine print even that is actually a trojan which you need to launch yourself. It appears to qualify as a virus only because it disguises itself as a JPEG and sends itself via iChat so you might be fooled into double-clicking. I've never heard of anyone being infected by it but it is a possibility I guess. Virex should defend against windows viruses being passed through a Mac (say by forwarding an email for example) and also the dreaded word macro viruses which are generally benign on Mac but for which it is possible to act as a carrier.

As ever, keep up to date with system updates, don't launch programs or open files if you are unsure of the origin and never run your system as root.
You should be OK - the adverts really can be believed, the virus threat for OS X is very low compared to XP.

Note that anti-spam software is marketed separately and is likely to be a more important consideration for a home user whose mail is unprotected at the ISP.

[tree_and_leaf]

Good to know that Mac users are still safe, and that only the elementary precautions are needed.

Thanks for that info!

[oxoniana.livejournal.com]

Hello! I can't remember if we've 'spoken' before but I@m interested to see you're a medievalist in OXford who started off at St Andrews- so am I! I wonder if we know each other...when did you graduate?

[tree_and_leaf]

Two years ago - am a bit reluctant to post much revealing detail on a public website, but feel free to e-mail me at treeandleafster@googlemail.com. I see you're a Lincolnite, so we're relatively close in terms of college geography.