Mac Defender


Recommended Posts

so she missed the Windows executable names in the list (.exe, .vbs) and the fact her home space is now "Computer"? :p

Yes. "Normal" people will miss that. Again, as was stated, WE know it's fake but we're not like most people out there as far as computer knowledge is concerned.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll never forget the first 'clickjacking' I saw. Back in early 2009, I was searching for a venue for my wedding. We settled on a Museum (awesome grounds outside), for the wedding. I had clicked on the link to go to the website for them and was immediately redirected to one of the fake antivirus malware sites.

I started to laugh when I saw it displaying Windows drives and EXE's, Cabs and other files of that nature. Since, I was using Mac, it was obvious to me but it struck me at just how accurate they made the explorer look and emulated it. For the casual user, it is easy to fall into those things.

Ever since then though, they have become better at OS detection and emulating that software end. What we don't know about the original user of this system the OP was talking about is if they were recent switchers from Windows. Perhaps in looking at the file list, they didn't think much of it. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Friends computer basically blocked his internet connection and kept sending him to porn sites instead of the sites he wanted to go to. it's a bit more than nagware when that happens.

That's not what happens on the Mac OS X at least not the one I got. I've installed it out of curiosity on a secondary machine that I was about to format: Nagware only and it was insanely easy to get rid of. The internet wasn't blocked, nor did it redirect to porn sites.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have seen a couple of variants of this already. Its just a matter of time before more show up. As long as apple keeps gaining market share this will happen. Prior to now there were not enough macs out there to even bother writing viruses and such but lately with all the hype of the iphone/ipad and other mac stuff its open things to the point where the one main thing that set it apart from pc's is now going to be going away. What do you do when even mac isnt secure?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What do you do when even mac isnt secure?

To be 100% safe the only solution is to unplug your computer from the internet and don't exchange any files, whether you're running Mac OS X, Windows or Linux.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Surely with OS X's design not giving random apps root access will limit the damage they can cause

Yes. "Normal" people will miss that. Again, as was stated, WE know it's fake but we're not like most people out there as far as computer knowledge is concerned.

Well you say that but surely the fact that no anti-virus software replicates the "My Computer" location or the default Finder Location during scanning, plus the fact it's taking place in your browser it wouldn't take much to realise it's a scam

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well you say that but surely the fact that no anti-virus software replicates the "My Computer" location or the default Finder Location during scanning, plus the fact it's taking place in your browser it wouldn't take much to realise it's a scam

Are all your friends and family geeks and techs? Normal everyday users, people I see everyday at work and most of my family, would see that and not bat an eye at "default Finder locations" and whether it's in a browser or a separate window. The fact that it sort of resembles a Mac's "Home" window vs looking like Windows would be enough to fool most users.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are all your friend's and family geeks and techs? Normal everyday users, people I see everyday at work and most of my family, would see that and not bat an eye at "default Finder locations" and whether it's in a browser or a separate window. The fact that it sort of resembles a Mac's "Home" window vs looking like Windows would be enough to fool most users.

Thank you

Normal people don't understand what a cab file is or an exe file is....

NORMAL PEOPLE = NON-TECH SAVVY PEOPLE

Link to comment
Share on other sites

People should really educate themselves just as they educate themselves how to prevent someone from breaking into your home. Falling for something as simple as this is just plain stupid. I mean, a website inside your browser that somehow magically gains access to the entire contents of your HDD and scans it in a matter of seconds? Come on...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

People should really educate themselves just as they educate themselves how to prevent someone from breaking into your home. Falling for something as simple as this is just plain stupid. I mean, a website inside your browser that somehow magically gains access to the entire contents of your HDD and scans it in a matter of seconds? Come on...

If that were the case no one would watch Fox News, CBS, etc because in my opinion they are all bloated, scareware topics - but that doesn't mean the rest of people show my view.

I deal with people all the time that TRY and fix their own computers, and screw it up worse than what it started. Some thing just aren't better learned by the common person.

I deal with rich people all day, they have ZERO want to learn computers just like cars. They could care less!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are all your friends and family geeks and techs? Normal everyday users, people I see everyday at work and most of my family, would see that and not bat an eye at "default Finder locations" and whether it's in a browser or a separate window. The fact that it sort of resembles a Mac's "Home" window vs looking like Windows would be enough to fool most users.

No they aren't infact my dad doesn't even know what a virus is, only started using computers (outside of work) 2 or 3 years ago, purely to keep up with friends and family, but even he immediately identified that the mac defender picture was "suspicious at best, and probably bad news".

I also asked 3 or 4 of my non-tech friends (1 of which didn't even have an AV running!) to study the same picture, they weren't fooled either

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 years later...
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.