Educause Security Discussion mailing list archives
Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X
From: "Stanclift, Michael" <michael.stanclift () ROCKHURST EDU>
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 11:20:31 -0500
I agree. Even on Windows the problem these days is less and less about a virus that can spread on its own (although that is still a problem) and more about users not knowing how to practice safe surfing, and visiting sites that take advantage of exploits... or simply tricking them into thinking what they're installing is legit. As more and more people move to the Mac because "it doesn't get viruses" more and more of them are going to find out exactly how incorrect that statement will become. I think Apple does a huge disservice to its users and to the technology community by making them think simply using their OS is enough to protect them from the dangers on the Internet. Gotta go, my iPhone is ringing... :P Michael Stanclift Network Analyst Rockhurst University http://help.rockhurst.edu (816) 501-4231 -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Cal Frye Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 10:49 AM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Gene Spafford wrote:
This is the one response of actual malware being found on end-user systems. Things installed via an ssh break are different, as are demonstrations of things on web sites that require automatically and blindly running things downloaded.
I don't want to dismiss these so easily, given the common Macintosh user's perception of safety in browsing ("Macs don't get viruses") and interest in bright shiny objects ("Cool, a new video codec!") ;-) We have had ongoing troubles here with DNS changer trojans, although nothing sufficient to bring the network down a la Blaster, et al. I grant you that from the networking side of things, these trojans are Not Our Problem, but they certainly remain troublesome in the user education arena. Written from my shiny MacBook Pro, for the record... -- Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species. -- Cal Frye, Network Administrator, Oberlin College Mudd Library, x.56930 -- CIT will NEVER ask you for your password! www.calfrye.com, www.pitalabs.com "There are risks and costs to any action. But they are far less than risks and costs of comfortable inaction." -- John F. Kennedy.
Current thread:
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X, (continued)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Noah Abrahamson (May 04)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Morrow Long (May 04)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Cal Frye (May 04)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Spransy, Derek (May 04)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X King, Ronald A. (May 04)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Chris Green (May 04)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X King, Ronald A. (May 04)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Mark Borrie (May 04)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Gene Spafford (May 04)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Cal Frye (May 05)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Stanclift, Michael (May 05)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Cal Frye (May 05)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Christopher Jones (May 05)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Joel Rosenblatt (May 05)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Stanclift, Michael (May 05)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Cal Frye (May 05)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Russell Fulton (May 06)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Morrow Long (May 07)
- Re: Adware/Spyware on Mac/OS X Russell Fulton (May 07)