[X4U] Recent Malware Threats; What To Do

[Randy B. Singer]

There is a new Trojan Horse going around that is quite nasty, called  
Flashback.

Article: Mac Flashback Trojan: Find Out If You’re One of the 600,000  
Infected
<http://gizmodo.com/5899352/mac-flashback-trojan-find-out-if-youre- 
one-of-the-600000-infected>
This article will tell you how to find out if you are already  
infected by the Flashback Trojan, and it tells where to go to find  
instructions on how to eliminate this malware if you are.
(Don't be too upset by the title of that article. I've yet to hear a  
single firsthand account of someone being infected by Flashback.)

Apple has already pushed out an update to Java that includes a patch  
to make your Mac immune to Flashback.
Once you either find out that you aren't infected with Flashback, or  
you find out that you are infected with Flashback and you eliminate  
it, it would be a very good idea to go ahead and update Java to  
acquire immunity to Flashback.
<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5228?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US>

Java, by the way, is a programming language that is used for  
applications and advanced features on Web sites. It's use has become  
very rare. If you think that it is unlikely that you even have a need  
for Java, it is possible to completely disable Java so that it can be  
totally eliminated as a vector of malware infection on your computer.:
<http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57408841-263/how-to-check-for- 
and-disable-java-in-os-x/>

There is another Trojan Horse going around that is carried via a  
Microsoft Office document. Don't confuse this with the Flashback  
Trojan. Apple has already pushed out a security update to protect you  
against this Trojan also.
Apple updated XProtect with a definition to
catch the Office vulnerability. They refer to it as "OSX/Mdropper.i."  
You should run Software Update on your Mac and install all security  
updates.

In addition, if you have Microsoft Office installed, it's a good idea  
to install the Microsoft updaters for Office. These include a patch  
against this Trojan also:
<http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads>


___________________________________________
Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
___________________________________________