Macs targeted by rogue anti-virus software
By Joe Elvin
23/05/2011
Mac users are being conned into buying useless anti-virus software by a new malware scam.
The malware starts by downloading a constant stream of adult material into IT management systems.
It then tricks users into paying for bogus anti-virus software in order to get rid of the material.
The software, also produced by internet hackers, puts an end to the adult downloads but does little else; and experts have warned those who gave the hackers their credit card details that these may have been passed on to third parties.
A report from CNet.com suggested this was by far the largest rogue anti-virus scams to solely target Mac computers. It appears that the growth in popularity of Macs means that it is now profitable for virus producers to target them as well as PCs.
AVG chief scientist, Karel Obluk, said that Mac users would now have to be a lot more wary of similar rogue applications.
Speaking to SC Magazine, he said: "This marks a watershed in OS X's user experience after which users will have to be more vigilant about their security online and will need to take actions to protect themselves against online threats."
Apple support staff have reportedly received five times more phone calls than average since the spread of the malware, but have been ordered not to confirm to users that they had been infected or to attempt to remove any software.
