MAC Attack

Although it is not unusual for malware to pop up online, it is unusual for the target to be a MAC system. Next Web reports that a malware version of the highly used and well respected version of MacDefender antivirus application is infecting a great many MAC users.
It reads: Early reports show that users have been targeted as they search Google Images, one user stating that the bogus MacDefender application was automatically downloaded as he browsed images of Piranhas. Further searching through the Apple Discussion boards suggests that the malware campaign is targeting users of Apple’s Safari browser, displaying warnings that the user’s computer has been infected with viruses that only the unofficial MacDefender application can remove.
The reason many users ar being infected is that Safari is set to automatically open “trusted software.” The user does not even know they are infected until it is too late. That is when the malicious software application demands payment for protection. The user then enters credit card information, and the rest is not pretty.
The good news in all of this is that it can be easily removed. Follow these steps to do so:
1. Open Safari, click on Preferences, then General and uncheck the option to “Open safe files after downloading.”
2. Stop running the suspect application, (check the Activity Monitor in Applications, then Utilities, and disable anything that relates to MacDefender.
3. Look in /Library/StartupItems and, same place, LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons for references to the malware app.
4. Once quit, head to the Applications folder and drag the MacDefender app to the trash, then delete trash.
5. To ensure all references to the app are cleared, run a search using Spotlight and delete all MacDefender references you find.
To be safe, we suggest you leave the option to “Open safe files” in Safari toggled, whether you are infected or not.