Half a million Mac computers 'infected with malware'

[phototec]

#1 reason any OS gets infected is user stupidity, IE going to shady website or clicking on popup.

You are NEVER ever going to get a virus on your work station, design computer, production computer if you just keep it off the internet.

And whenever you receive a clients file open on another computer first and check it, run anti-virus software.

 

[HulkSmash]

You are NEVER ever going to get a virus on your work station, design computer, production computer if you just keep it off the internet.

And whenever you receive a clients file open on another computer first and check it, run anti-virus software.

Design computers without internet? Hmm almost seems like an oxymoron...

 

[Rick]

Oh no, .5% of all the Macs sold in the US in the past 4 years are infected!!!

And yes, Macs should have some anti virus protection even if the virus potential is low, it's enough to warrant a little extra security.

 

[artbot]

??? a work station hooked up to the internet? is that what your "internet computer" is for.

 

[peavey123]

guess i'm just lucky, I've had my iMac for 7 years, and no problems to date. 7 iMacs here at the shop for 2 years and no issues. I run a check every 6 months to be prudent, and ... nothin

You're not lucky. I just did a rough calculation. (I hope my math is ok?)

Say there are 1 billion computers in the world. 5% are macs right? That's 50 million macs total. 500,000 have been infected. That's only 1% of mac users. We are the 99%. Woot!

 

[Flame]

Design computers without internet? Hmm almost seems like an oxymoron...

My design and rip stations shall NEVER touch the internetz. Never ever ever ever ever.

 

[Mike F]

You are NEVER ever going to get a virus on your work station, design computer, production computer if you just keep it off the internet.

And whenever you receive a clients file open on another computer first and check it, run anti-virus software.

Not necessarily true, it can still get infected if you put infected storage media in it. The infection won't be able to send your info out, but you'll still be infected. If it ends up being something truly malicious and not just typical malware/spyware that mines your personal data, you're still screwed.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

Design computers without internet? Hmm almost seems like an oxymoron...

I have a design computer that will never be hooked up to the web. I have it networked, but only with my file server which is also lacking internet connection.

Anyone who NEEDS the internet to design something isn't a designer. Internet can help (for reference and the such) ... but need ... no.

 

[WildWestDesigns]

Anyone who NEEDS the internet to design something isn't a designer. Internet can help (for reference and the such) ... but need ... no.

If I recall correctly, if you use the subscription method for Adobe software, it needs to go online once a month to verify that the account is up to date. If I recall that correctly, that would be a need.

In my instance, I only have 2 computers and they do everything. I don't have a totally dedicated internet computer. All these years, it's been fine. Now could I be tempted fate, possibly.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

If I recall correctly, if you use the subscription method for Adobe software, it needs to go online once a month to verify that the account is up to date. If I recall that correctly, that would be a need.

In my instance, I only have 2 computers and they do everything. I don't have a totally dedicated internet computer. All these years, it's been fine. Now could I be tempted fate, possibly.

Hmm, forgot that subscription model garbage ... well that might be an exception ... completely limits a system though ... sort of like storing all your files on a cloud server ... your ISP cuts through a line and you're out of business until it's back up ... at least with repeat business anyways.

I'll stick to non sub based software.

 

[round man]

The simplest and most basic truth of the matter is,..if you operate a device that can run protective software to prevent the problems discussed here you should,...often as not there is a perfectly free option if you just do a simple search and download the solution,...the key option for all of us is preventive measures,and they are usually the most effective. Most of these unwanted problems recreate themselves whether they are on a mac or pc or linux computer or device and spread themselves from there,...if we are ever going to stop the culprits we ALL have to use some sort of preventive approach instead of sticking our head in the sand and pretending we have an answer to a problem we know is not going to go away and is a matter when not if it is going to happen next,.....you guys ought to try removing the problems from anyone's machine who walks in the door yet keep two or three of your own machines clean along with any flash drives and portable hard drives used at the same time,that you have to use on the infected machines to repair them...its kind of like playing with the used needles in the quarantine ward at the hospital and expecting to stay disease free,..just because you use rubber gloves doesn't mean you won't get pricked with a dirty needle,....

 

[WildWestDesigns]

Hmm, forgot that subscription model garbage ... well that might be an exception ... completely limits a system though ... sort of like storing all your files on a cloud server ... your ISP cuts through a line and you're out of business until it's back up ... at least with repeat business anyways.

I'll stick to non sub based software.

One other one that applies to me specifically, but y'all might have software that does it as well.

I just had a Service Pack update on my embroidery software and I had to initiate the download from within the program itself. They didn't have it on their database with web browser access. At least not yet, they might eventually, but even their instructions said to initiate it from within the program.

Not all programs are like that I understand, but that might be another exception to needing to have an internet connection, even if it's a temp one.

Now that I think about it, updates for adobe are done the same way. They have that adobe updater that checks for everything. Now I hardly go to Adobe's website, they might have them setup for manual download, I don't know.

 

[Rooster]

I'm clean. I've been a mac user since 1986 and never once had a virus, trojan, worm or any other infection. I've also never run virus software on any of my macs.

It sounds like the hole in Java has been plugged. It does concern me though, that they found a way to load software without the user's authorization. That has always been the mac's strongest safeguard. If they find a new way to get software to load without user authorization I may need to rethink my lack of virus software.

 

[CheapVehicleWrap]

Is nothing sacred? For added protection, might I suggest wearing a condom while online from this point forward. You too ladies.

 

[Bly]

You mean a Mac is just another computer?

Noooooooooooooooooooo.........

 

[boxerbay]

mac attack! lol... I like my PC. The other designers here swear by mac and it's always in the repair shop. they having problem with their cd/dvd drives.

 

[visual800]

10 million pcs infected with all kinds of crap...you dont ever see that headline do you? and Im AM a pc guy. Im hooked up to internet on my design station and I try and not download anything i aint supposed to

 

[Mike F]

One thing that blows my mind about the whole "I don't need anti-virus software, my machine is IMMORTAL!" mentality.... if a mac user, or even a pc or linux user, doesn't run any anti-virus software, and gets one of these new malwares that's designed to just chill in the background and steal your personal information, how would they even know they were infected? Would they even figure it out after their accounts got drained, or would they chalk it up to something else?

Just cause you don't see smoke don't mean there ain't a fire, and just because you're walking carefully through a minefield don't mean you're not gonna lose a leg eventually.