Apple Will Not Confirm or Deny Malware Infection

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the Tom's Hardware community: where nearly two million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Status
Not open for further replies.
[citation][nom]bystander[/nom]I'm not sure why you are talking about cheats and viruses together.[/citation]
I mentioned both to better explain my point in companies that are responsible for filtering or blocking unwanted software, often are to up to date with what is available and are often slow to update


while multiplayer cheats/ hacks are different from viruses and trojans,the anti cheat software is functionally the same to that of a virus scan, but instead of removal, the anticheat kicks and bans you.

the people who make these scanners are not using magic, it takes the effort of a lot of people but with the amount of malware being created, some can slip under the radar.

On top of that there is also laziness or lack of attention to certain issues (which may also happen with virus scans just as it happens with steam and their valve anticheat (eg the multihack which has a:

aim asist (more popular than a full on aim bot because it is harder to detect

no spread (stops bullet spread (most popular with short stop users in TF2 since it already has very little spread, you can detect it when you see someones shortstop shooting what appears to be 1 bullet and it only makes 1 bullet mark)

wall hack, (everyone knows what that does :) )

with something so toxic to a multiplayer experience, how is it that you can provide VAC with video footage of someone using the hack, explain what the hack does, and even provide a link on where to get the hack, and still have the hack not blocked nearly a year later

nothing has 100% accuracy because of factors such as not enough human resources, and a lack of caring and attention.
 
[citation][nom]randomizer[/nom]Has Microsoft, Dell or HP ever "officially" helped a customer remove a virus? Do you ask Western Digital or Seagate for help in removing the nasties on the hard drive that they sold you? This is outside of the scope of vendor support. End user tech support is meant to deal with this (you know, Geek Squad). Apple's response to this malware is simply in line with their support policy, which in this case is much the same as any other vendor's policy.[/citation]
Now we all know you are a mac fan boy because you are stupid enough to go to geek squad to get your computer fix. A real nerd would have easily fix it himself.
 
I'd have to agree that malware removal is beyond their scope. With that being said, I would expect them to at least tell me to update my anti-virus before coming in to them, or telling me to get some. That is within their scope.
 
[citation][nom]randomizer[/nom]Has Microsoft, Dell or HP ever "officially" helped a customer remove a virus?[/citation]
Absolutely. Lets see - Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Security Scanner.
Has apple ever provided 1st class protection/removal tools ever??
 
[citation][nom]davewolfgang[/nom]And all the iSheeple never believed that is was the Mac's that always got hacked FIRST at those security-con's and events.[/citation]
being hacked first, second or third at those events is meaningless and has nothing to do with security.
Hackers don't come to these events unprepared and then start frantically writing code like in some hollywood movie. They prepare their attacks weeks in advance. All they do at those events is execute their attack.

btw: "Mac Defender" does not exploit any security flaws. It merely scares the user into installing a fake anti-virus program and then submitting credit card information.

[citation][nom]jimmysmitty[/nom]Oh I don't know, lets see..... build a customizable PC with every part YOU want that runs Mac OSX legally. Thats a pretty big one that I do that I cannot do with a Mac.[/citation]
Apple is a hardware company first. They don't want to sell operating systems as a stand-alone product.
What I meant was restrictions in Mac OS X that would somehow protect from viruses.


[citation][nom]jimmysmitty[/nom]Even though its based on Linux, I love how Apple uses a open source OS and charges for it BTW, there will be holes. And those holes will be exploited. And the masses will complain to Apple who will in return, say go away.There is no such thing as perfect in this world, even Linux. If Linux was big enough it too would have malware.[/citation]
Mac OS X is not based on Linux. It's based on BSD(Unix) and the Mach Kernel.
If I'm not mistaken there was also some BSD code to be found in Windows. Makes no sense to reinvent the wheel every time you write an operating system.
 
[citation][nom]molo9000[/nom]being hacked first, second or third at those events is meaningless and has nothing to do with security.Hackers don't come to these events unprepared and then start frantically writing code like in some hollywood movie. They prepare their attacks weeks in advance. All they do at those events is execute their attack.btw: "Mac Defender" does not exploit any security flaws. It merely scares the user into installing a fake anti-virus program and then submitting credit card information.[/citation]
Actually being the first to fall at security events is a very big indicative of it's security. Of course hackers go prepared for those events, finding exploits for any OS is time consuming.
"Mac defender" like almost all malware on Windows does exploit a security flaw, the user.
 


Excuse me? Intel CPUs, nVidia/AMD GPUs, Sony screens... what Apple-made hardware are you talking about? Oh, wait, you must mean the case... well, that's not hardware =)
 
[citation][nom]Vladislaus[/nom]Actually being the first to fall at security events is a very big indicative of it's security. Of course hackers go prepared for those events, finding exploits for any OS is time consuming."Mac defender" like almost all malware on Windows does exploit a security flaw, the user.[/citation]
Nobody shows up at those events without a working exploit. Which system goes down first at those events is merely a matter of scheduling by the organizer of the event.
The real measure of security is how many man-hours(or days or weeks) and how much expertise it took to write the exploit.

[citation][nom]amk-aka-phantom[/nom]Excuse me? Intel CPUs, nVidia/AMD GPUs, Sony screens... what Apple-made hardware are you talking about? Oh, wait, you must mean the case... well, that's not hardware =)[/citation]
Are Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. not hardware companies then? They don't make any of the hardware inside their computers either.
 
[citation][nom]molo9000[/nom]being hacked first, second or third at those events is meaningless and has nothing to do with security.Hackers don't come to these events unprepared and then start frantically writing code like in some hollywood movie. They prepare their attacks weeks in advance. All they do at those events is execute their attack.[/citation]

So hack speed is not a security issue? Have Steve told you so. Geez!
 
[citation][nom]rantoc[/nom]So hack speed is not a security issue? Have Steve told you so. Geez![/citation]
lol
have u ever read how these hacks for instance at pwn2own work? the hacks themselves only take seconds.
What takes weeks is finding the vulnerabilities and writing the actual code.
This is not hollywood where hacking involves frantic typing and cursing at the computer screen! All they do at the event is start already prepared software.
 
I worked at Dell tech support and I assure you they help remove viruses. Not all the techs do it since it's really up to whether a tech is capable or not but more often then not we could remove them and in alot of cases we would even Dellconnect to remove it for you.
 
[citation][nom]molo9000[/nom]Nobody shows up at those events without a working exploit. Which system goes down first at those events is merely a matter of scheduling by the organizer of the event.The real measure of security is how many man-hours(or days or weeks) and how much expertise it took to write the exploit.[/citation]
No one is talking about if it's the first to go we're talking that it's the fastest to go down.
[citation][nom]molo9000[/nom]Are Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. not hardware companies then? They don't make any of the hardware inside their computers either.[/citation]
No they aren't hardware companies they're a technology company just like Apple. Asus for example is a hardware company since they not only design but also build some of their hardware.
 
[citation][nom]molo9000[/nom]lolhave u ever read how these hacks for instance at pwn2own work? the hacks themselves only take seconds.What takes weeks is finding the vulnerabilities and writing the actual code.This is not hollywood where hacking involves frantic typing and cursing at the computer screen! All they do at the event is start already prepared software.[/citation]
You mean that Safari was taken down in seconds IE8 lasted longer since the hacker needed to use three separate vulnerabilities. Also Microsoft didn't released any patch to IE because of this event, unlike Apple that released a patch fixing 60+ security holes in an attempt to thwart the hacker and avoid the bad publicity.
 
[citation][nom]scuba dave[/nom]"The reason for the rule, they say, is that even though Mac Defender is easy to remove, we can’t set the expectation to customers that we will be able to remove all malware in the future. That’s what antivirus is for."Well said.[/citation]
Not to nit-pick, but, a tech telling you that anti-virus is for removing malware...really?

[citation][nom]yose3[/nom]LMAOO this is the time when apple user are starting to understand that just because it say "apple" ir doesnt mean they are safe lolAnd yes im a PCi run AVG anti virus freee editioni got window 7and i havent got a single virus thank you[/citation]
Amen. I've been a Windows user all my life. Played with Mac OS, Linux. I've always honestly preferred windows. Guess what? Been using computers for almost 30 years, you know, back when DOS prompt was how you controlled your computer (the good old days) and bulletin boards were how you downloaded things off the internet. Never been infected. As for Apple directing their people to buy anti-virus software instead of helping them...anyone really shocked about that? It's a company driven by pride and profit. And most Apple users will probably just go buy the software without hesitation. I truly feel bad for those users, as most of the Mac users I know bought one cuz "it just works."
 
[citation][nom]randomizer[/nom]Has Microsoft, Dell or HP ever "officially" helped a customer remove a virus? Do you ask Western Digital or Seagate for help in removing the nasties on the hard drive that they sold you? This is outside of the scope of vendor support. End user tech support is meant to deal with this (you know, Geek Squad). Apple's response to this malware is simply in line with their support policy, which in this case is much the same as any other vendor's policy.[/citation]

Well, yes, actually; they do.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129972/en-us
1-866-PCSAFETY
1-866-727-2338

These support lines can be used regardless of where the software was purchased / brand of computer / version of windows / etc.
 
[citation][nom]Vladislaus[/nom]No they aren't hardware companies they're a technology company just like Apple. Asus for example is a hardware company since they not only design but also build some of their hardware.[/citation]
They are however in the business of selling hardware with bundled software.
Microsoft on the other hand is (at least in the personal computer market) only in the business of selling software.

[citation][nom]Vladislaus[/nom]You mean that Safari was taken down in seconds IE8 lasted longer since the hacker needed to use three separate vulnerabilities. Also Microsoft didn't released any patch to IE because of this event, unlike Apple that released a patch fixing 60+ security holes in an attempt to thwart the hacker and avoid the bad publicity.[/citation]
How long did IE8 last then? 2seconds longer?
What really matters is how difficult it was to write the exploit. Both the IE8 and the Safari hack took about 3 man-weeks to prepare, if I remember correctly.
Now u can argue which of the hackers had more expertise or if it's an advantage or disadvantage for IE to be under constant attack by hackers since it's release while Safari gets mostly ignored by hackers.
 
[citation][nom]jacobdrj[/nom] Just because you live in 2011, doesn't mean you have to be tech savvy. Not everyone has the same set of goals in life, namely to be an IT savvy guru. Or should they?[/citation]

"Just because you live in 1902, doesn't mean you have to be electricity savvy."

"Just because you live in 1931, doesn't mean you have to be automobile savvy."

Despite their individual idiosyncrasies, the personal computer has been pretty much standard for two decades. If you are alive in 2011, your inability to troubleshoot your own computer isn't cute anymore. Either own it or don't own it.
 
[citation][nom]molo9000[/nom]How long did IE8 last then? 2seconds longer?What really matters is how difficult it was to write the exploit. Both the IE8 and the Safari hack took about 3 man-weeks to prepare, if I remember correctly.[/citation]
Actually the Safari exploit took 2 weeks to write and the ie8 exploit about 3 weeks.
[citation][nom]molo9000[/nom]Now u can argue which of the hackers had more expertise or if it's an advantage or disadvantage for IE to be under constant attack by hackers since it's release while Safari gets mostly ignored by hackers.[/citation]
You're finally getting the point. Mac nowadays are pretty much ignored from malware attacks because they're very rare compared to Windows.
 
[citation][nom]olivertea[/nom]This isn't a virus, folks. It's a trojan. [/citation]

I knew it. Someone would say it... "IT'S NOT A VIRUS".

Here's an idea, that that to the poor schmuck who's 10 year old see's porn popping up on their new Mac, that Apple refuses to tell them how to get rid of, and that Apple said doesn't happen on a Mac. "Yes, you have porn popping up, but hey AT LEAST IT'S NOT A VIRUS!"
 
You're finally getting the point. Mac nowadays are pretty much ignored from malware attacks because they're very rare compared to Windows.
Click to expand...

Just another bot spreading the Mac "Myth".

Mac is now just another OS waiting to be hacked .
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom