Mac has had a false reputation as being untouchable, and now Mac users will be faced with a harsh reality of a world full of malware, and viruses. Mac’s success has shown as an interesting target for Malware programmers, and has seen in statistics the growing number of infections under Mac’s Platform.
Eugene Kaspersky, the CEO of security firm Kaspersky Lab, says Apple is headed for a rough patch, and claimed that when it comes to computer security, Apple’s Mac platform was a decade behind Microsoft’s.
“They will understand very soon that they have the same problems Microsoft had 10 or 12 years ago,” Kaspersky said in an interview. “They will have to make changes in terms of the cycle of updates and so on and will be forced to invest more into their security audits for the software.”
“That’s what Microsoft did in the past after so many incidents like Blaster and the more complicated worms that infected millions of computers in a short time,” he added. “They had to do a lot of work to check the code to find mistakes and vulnerabilities. Now it’s time for Apple [to do the same].”
The statements come on the heels of Flashback, a high-profile piece of Mac malware that is estimated to have infected more than 600,000 Macs at its peak. More recent figures put its current infection somewhere at less than 185,000 machines worldwide. –Symantec (Statistics of how many computers have been infected).
Apple patched the system vulnerability the Flashback attacks were using, and released a removal tool for infected machines. But the company got flack from security experts for not fixing it sooner. Security companies (including Kaspersky) also made Apple look slow to react by offering up their own detection and removal tools ahead of an official fix.
Apple’s also announced Gatekeeper, a technology that will be built into the upcoming release of OS X Mountain Lion, that gives users a way to install only software that’s been signed by registered developers.
Even with those things on tap, Kaspersky argues that Apple’s success will continue to make the Mac a bigger target.
“Cyber criminals have now recognized that Mac is an interesting area. Now we have more malware and it’s not just Flashback or Flashfake,” Kaspersky told CBR. “Welcome to Microsoft’s world, Mac. It’s full of malware”
An Apple spokesman declined to comment on Kaspersky’s remarks.
(Information referenced from Cnet Blogger- Josh Lowensohn)
Security Issues such as these can be easily remedied At Orange County Computer’s Tech Center. Contact a member of our Tech Team about any security issues you may be experiencing at 949-699-6619 or, email support@orangecountycomputer.com. For more information about simple steps you can take to prevent system infections, visit OrangeCountyComputer.com.
We’ve all seen pop-ups and paid advertisements showing: “$75 Computer Repair Services Any Problem.” We hear about it all the time: A residential client that bawks at our hourly rate but then discloses to us the horror stories about the technician they paid $75 “per job” for. These consumers complain to us about the experiences they had with these types of “Technicians”: Repeat charges for unresolved issues, unrepaired problems that linger without resolve and how can we forget about the incorrectly diagnosed repairs and wasted time? Orange County Computer’s Tech Repair Center picks up the pieces for many of these frustrated consumers. We have seen misdiagnosed motherboard problems, laptop components, clean room data recovery jobs that didn’t need to go to a clean room, hard drives replaced that had no evidence of being bad, and the list goes on and on….My personal favorite is when we hear about customers that honestly believe they have valid Microsoft licensing which was produced by “Key Generators” provided by BitTorrent websites.
People, you get what you pay for, it’s as simple as that. Typically the one-man-show technicians that are undercharging the market inevitably end up coming back several times to correct a problem and you, the customer, end up paying more money in the long run anyway. Other scenarios can include being sold illegal copies of software applications. The truth about licensing is this:
If as a consumer, you are sold a Microsoft License as an example, you will receive a Valid License key code and an authentication sticker to place on your system or a Certified Product License key code. If you have hacked or illegal product licensing, you, the customer, will have an array of compatibility issues and bugs, followed by warnings. That same technician that charged you $75/hour will have to come back several times to correct some completely unnecessary problem that they created themselves by selling you an illegal copy of a software application. Unfortunately, most people find out about their illegal software licensing a few years later when having to purchase LEGAL, valid licensing during a repair, or when as new computer is purchased.
So buyer beware: Protect your technology, time and money and qualify your technician by asking the following questions BEFORE giving someone access into your home office and your personal confidential information:
- Ask how long they have been working as an IT Consultant?
- Do they carry Business Insurance?
- Do they have any Technical Certifications?
- Do they have any references you can speak with?
- Do they provide these services on the side or full-time?
I hope that this honest posting has been useful and hopefully steered you or someone you know away from working with the wrong type of technician. Orange County Computer Computer, Inc. is happy to help. Feel free to stop by our Tech Repair Center or visit us online at www.orangecountycomputer.com for more information about our professional and responsible business practices in the Technology Sector.
Written by Deborah Walck, Operations Director, Orange County Computer, Inc.
One of the fastest-growing methods cybercriminals are using of disseminating malware is through fake antivirus software. Fake antivirus software can either be a program that claims to be antivirus software that does little or no work, or it can actually be a Trojan horse, disguised to actually implant malware onto a computer. The purpose of it is to scare a user and get the payment out.
The reason why fake antivirus software can get around powerful protection is because of social engineering. Social engineering is the term used to describe the act of tricking an unsuspecting person into giving up information or money. Specifically, this is done in the context in the digital world where the trick is done remotely.
Question:
I have Norton Internet Security on my computer, and heard that it was hacked. Now, I’m getting e-mail from Symantec saying that I need to update my security, and the e-mail provides a link. I know you say never click a link in an e-mail, but what do I do about my security?
Answer:
You’re wise to question that e-mail. Hackers did indeed break into the network of security developer Symantec and stole the source code for multiple security programs, including your Norton Internet Security. While that happened back in 2006, the hackers just released new information related to that incident last week, so there is renewed concern.
Now other hackers are taking advantage of the situation and sending fake e-mail with malicious attachments and links. Remember, Symantec programs update themselves. The company will never send you update links or attachments via e-mail. Symantec will also never ask for your personal information.
That e-mail is a fake. If you use Symantec products, you’ll need to watch them carefully for available updates.
For more information on keeping your computer virus free, visit our site at OrangeCountyComputer.com and read our few simple and effective steps for proper security on your desktop/laptop system.
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