As I do not use Word, these had not come to light earlier (nor had they spread). Half a dozen Word files that I had not used in about three years were shown as having Macro viruses. I ran ClamXav three or four times, first on a small selection of files, then some larger directories and also mailboxes. The mailbox needs to retain its integrity. Items that can be scanned include mailboxes: Mark includes a warning that, for these, the isolation method should not be used. The software has the ability to move infected files to a quarantine folder where they can be isolated. Preferences are available for some fine-tuning: General, Internet and Schedule. Version 0.9.0f for OSX is a 2.8MB download with a simple install process.Ī panel allows you to update the signatures (you can also set this to update automatically) and a file browser gives you choices of which directories or files to scan. Mark Allan, from the UK, had been using an Open Source application called ClamAV but he tired of the command line so, bless him, took it upon himself to develop ClamXav, a free virus checker (using signatures). A further commercial product is that of Sophos which has a link to evaluate a copy of the application. A number of OSX users have also installed the products of Intego: these include VirusBarrier and Netbarrier. Norton Anti-virus for Mac, version 9.0 is also in the market and has a good following. It was withdrawn by Apple in late 2004 for a brief time after a conflict was discovered and is now available again with. McAfee Virex has been around for a long time - I used a copy in System 8 - and can be found as part of the. What we have left, if we are going to prepare, are the signature checkers. This is one that screams out for a GUI version. I would not suggest installing this unless you are really comfortable working at the command line. There is a Unix-based system integrity checker, called Tripwire, which I installed ( see xnote7). ( Note: try a Google search using keywords: Victor Charlie+DOS+Bangkok.)Ī virus signature - the common method of virus-detection these days - may arrive days after the event. I almost long for the days (and simplicity) of the locally-written Victor Charlie (for DoS) which examined checksums to seek out unauthorised changes. There have been experiments: last year one (one!) widely-reported Unix-based package was found: it had no method of self-propagation and no delivery system. As a normal precaution I do not open attachments, and trash them instantly. These do not harm the Mac environment but may damage a Windows computer if sent. The only problem on OSX is from macros with Microsoft products and from mail attachments. There is no point spending all your time virus-writing, however, if viruses will not work. If the numbers of viruses for Windows keeps on growing (15 Jan 05 Total Viruses Detected 68736 - Symantec) the Mac may come in for some attention. Mac naysayers would have us believe there are no viruses because there are so few Macs (this also applies to Linux and Unix platforms), although that could change with the iMac mini. We use Administrator privileges and, if Root is needed for installation of an application or for alterations to the system - what a virus would need to do - a user must enter a password: physically and consciously acknowledging an event (and its consequences). Dr Smoke, who gave me some advice on this subject, gives a clear explanation of how the problem should be viewed at the X Lab pages. There are no OSX virusus (or worms, or Trojans): partly due to the implementation of OSX and its almost-inaccessible Root. Mac users may gasp Mac critics will be smug with, "I knew it." I expect a couple of reactions to this headline. Do not be complacent and please do secure your computer with proper passwords. The other insecurity was one that based itself on a weakness in Bluetooth that was fixed a while back. The security companies updated their definitions (including Mark Allan - see below - who produces ClamXav). Reports suggest that the files needed user help in some cases - either to be downloaded and/or installed. Although many commentators suggest it is not over-serious (including Apple), there is also a feeling that the long weekend is over. Tthere have been reports this week of a virus/worm/trojan for OS X that spreads via iChat - Leap-A. Note (added ): I have seen the number of hits to this page increasing in the last few days.
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