How to avoid or remove Mac Defender malware (on Macintosh OSX)

Apple Support Forum ^ | May 24, 2011 | apple support

[Sundog]

A recent phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus. The user is then offered Mac Defender "anti-virus" software to solve the issue.

This “anti-virus” software is malware (i.e. malicious software). Its ultimate goal is to get the user's credit card information which may be used for fraudulent purposes.

The most common names for this malware are MacDefender, MacProtector and MacSecurity.

[Sundog]

Apple has promised a future update, soon I hope, to automatically do this. Otherwise, I'm finding what looks like legitimate google advertisements that go to the MacDefender web site.There have been discussions about what Apple is going to do about this piece of Malware so well presented to users, and this is the beginning of their response.

[allmost]

Must be pretty serious if Apple is acknowledging the problem.

[unixfox]

But how can this be true? Mac fans have always said that they can't get infected.

I just have to laugh at it. It was only a matter of time.

[library user]

Not only that but thinking you can’t get infected means that when YOU DO, in fact, get infected, it’s going to take that much more time for a solution, since the manufacturer (Apple) didn’t bother to ever prepare for such a day.

[library user]

My solution: Get a Mac Windows 7.

[Sundog]

It is the most slick operation of pretending to be legitimate software I’ve ever seen. I found Google sponsored advertisements for these bits of malware on yahoo, I’ve seen them at the top of Drudge, and it is an extremely well financed effort.

[unixfox]

I see it every day on PC's. They really put a LOT of effort into it. Some of them look so real I can understand how a regular user could be duped.

We have the tools to remove almost all of them and we have it down to science at our shop. We charge a flat fee for cleanups and lately we have been SWAMPED.

[Sundog]

You don't often get malware that is so slick the perp expects you to pay to down load the whole package after a trial version does you a favor.

Fake MacDefender Brings Malware to Macs

[Sundog]

Apple to issue an update for MacDefender malware soon.

[Sundog]

Older Post on the same subject

[WaterBoard]

[allmost]

Photochop al gore on top of both.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

But but but ....Macs are superior

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

But how can this be true? Mac fans have always said that they can't get infected.

This isn't a virus. It's malware that requires the user to personally circumvent every safety precaution by intentionally loading the software. The irony is that it pretends to be anti-virus software. If the user simply ignores it, relying on Mac's reputation, they won't have a problem.

You can't engineer a cure for stupidity.

[Sundog]

You bring up an interesting corollary.

You can go right ahead and market it with the greatest of ease.

[dayglored]

> Do I need to say more?

Yeah, you can apologize to all the straight conservative Mac users on FreeRepublic for being a troll and hurling slurs.

* The multi-color Apple logo went out of use 14 years ago. It was developed to announce the use of color in the Apple II computer, in 1977.
* The rainbow as a gay symbol came out years after that, and has nothing to do with the Apple logo.

If you're going to make stupid troll statements, you should at least get your history in order.

But more importantly:

The rainbow is God's Promise to mankind. Are you mocking God? That's not recommended, either on FR or elsewhere. The fact that the homosexuals do so is their problem. Don't bring it here, and don't use it to trash people who happen to like Apple products. Is that clear? Tell ya what, I'll make it clearer for you:

"...Those who have a problem with Apple should just not buy the product and that takes care of that. Don’t come to FR to flame those who like the product. That’s just dumb..."
-- Jim Robinson, owner of FreeRepublic.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/2557969/posts?page=143#127

Don't be dumb. And have a great evening.

[Swordmaker]

Another MacDefender thread—PING!

Please, No Flame Wars, Discuss technical issues, software, and hardware.
Don't attack people!

Don't respond to the Anti-Apple Thread Trolls!
 PLEASE IGNORE THEM!!!

 

Apple MacDefender thread Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Swordmaker]

Here is a link to my instructions on how to protect your Mac

Swordmaker

[Swordmaker]

Do I need to say any more?

You need to say nothing! You are in violation of Jim Rob's rules against attempting to start a flame war.

[PeteB570]

The first two lines for Safari?

If you have both Safari & Firefox should you just follow your instructions and the settings will cover both Safari & Firefox?