Antivirus Firm Warns of New Mac OS X Spyware Application
This spyware, OSX/OpinionSpy, performs a number of malicious actions, from scanning files to recording user activity, as well as sending information about this activity to remote servers and opening a backdoor on infected Macs.
OSX/OpinionSpy is installed by a number of applications and screen savers that are distributed on sites such as MacUpdate, VersionTracker and Softpedia. The spyware itself is not contained in these applications, but is downloaded during the installation process.
Users have no way of knowing exactly what data is collected and sent to remote servers; such data may include user names, passwords, credit card numbers and more. The risk of this data being collected and used without users' permission makes this spyware particularly dangerous to users' privacy.
Full details on the malware's actions are available on Intego's site.OSX/OpinionSpy is a new Mac OS X version of Windows malware that has been floating around since 2008.
Top Rated Comments
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Where are all the people on this forum that for years proclaimed that Mac OS was virus/spyware free and there would NEVER be viruses/spyware due to OSX being built on Linux.
OS X is not built on Linux.
And nobody (intelligent, anyway) said there would NEVER be viruses or spyware. NO operating system is completely invincible.
That said, there's a HUGE difference between spyware, and other trojans, and a virus. Spyware and trojans can exist, have existed, will exist for OS X. An OS X virus, however, has not yet and currently does not exist. We can take bets on how long it will take before someone finally releases the first one.
it's only a matter of time before osx becomes a bigger target.
You're right. I remember 4 years ago when people said there would be a major OS X virus within a year.
And 3 years ago they said the same thing....
And 2 years ago....
And 1 year ago....
I'm not gonna get too worried about it just yet.
Personally, when I'm not using my Mac, I want it using as little power as possible. Sleep mode all the way.
...maybe I should finish reading the article
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