OT: help with my computer

[HenryTran]

I also spend alot of time trying to get some of these spyware/adware off the computers here at work. You win some and you lose some. Some of the programmer who write these things are very good. You just have to be prepared to back up your system and format. That is why it is important to have all the disk that came with your computer. It really isn't that hard to do, just takes a little time, but not hard.

As for the mac, everyone has their own opinion on them. As soon as it gets as mainstream as Windows, then and only then will we see the problems with them.

 

[omeg]

for camps that suggests reformats, I suggest using ghost once you are complete. It'll save you a ton of time if you decide to reformat again in the future.

Everything that runs off windows will have to be in the registry. I don't think they have virus/trojans that are going to flash memory (not those removable usb type) yet so it's just a matter of finding it (which is easier said than done).

I still don't think that it's the best idea to use software to remove unwanted software - most of these are a pain to deal/configure and works just like to virus so in the end your resources are taken not from the virus which it suppress but by these software. It will not improve much whether you have the virus or the software to remove the virus.

the only reason macs dont have virus (they do by the way) is because no one wants to spend time writing for a system no one uses.

 

[gcarroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7863192#post7863192 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefguy714
As for the mac, everyone has their own opinion on them. As soon as it gets as mainstream as Windows, then and only then will we see the problems with them.

Well, that essentially means I never have to worry!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7863723#post7863723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by omeg
the only reason macs dont have virus (they do by the way) is because no one wants to spend time writing for a system no one uses.

I have never heard of a successful virus written for OSX, but even if they are out there, the chances of getting them are still less that if you had a PC running the best virus protection software. Am I wrong?

 

[NicoleC]

I have never heard of a successful virus written for OSX, but even if they are out there, the chances of getting them are still less that if you had a PC running the best virus protection software. Am I wrong?

Sort of.

Due to the almost utter lack of protection and false sense of security among the Mac community, a dangerous contagious virus would likely rip through the community unchecked.

However, due to the small community, you may be less likely to catch said virus just because of fewer contacts with other Mac users.

So it really depends on the behavior of the virus.

Yes, there are real Mac viruses and threats out there, but a paltry few compared to the Windows platform... same as the market share.

 

[gcarroll]

Nicole, This was an explaination I read.

"As to Macs vs Windows, yes, there is some merit to the whole "its not worth hacking a mac because theres not enough users." But thats not the whole story. Theres also the fact that Mac OSX is a BSD/Unix based operating system, and like all Unix based systems, has a sane permission structure. It gives a user permissions only when they have been granted to the user. Windows on the other hand, basically makes everyone Root, and then tries to take permissions away from them if they havent been granted."

 

[NicoleC]

Yes, that is accurate for the new generation of Unix-based Macs.

BUT -- that there are a lot of old hard-core Unix hackers out there that make idiots that download virus authoring tools look like 2 year olds. A hacked a Unix box with a rootkit is completely open.

 

[jjirsa78]

Generally speaking, privilege escalation on UNIX is as easy as on classic windows - the security model is better, but most admins don't update all of the local software, just the software that faces the internet. Once you allow arbitrary code execution as a normal user (ie: a virus infection of any kind that allows arbitrary payload), consider yourself screwed. Some things in OSX make viruses EASIER, such as reverse SSH tunnels to open shells, which is much harder to do in windows (though VNC makes it much easier, if you're on a network where that sort of thing flies).

 

[gcarroll]

Thanks for the great information about how easy it is to get infected due to so-called security issues on a Mac. But let’s not be so technical here and play in the real world.

Is it, or is it not less LIKELY to get a virus on an unprotected Mac running OSX vs. a Windows PC running virus protection software?

Now before you answer, let me put some numbers out there. First the #s, then the type of software that it affects. All numbers are approximate.

179,000 - Windows
8,500 â€"œ Windows Office / macros
450 â€"œ Java platform
19,000 â€"œ scripts type
4500 - batch type

Of those virus’, 64000 are deemed as destructive.

There are 485 viruses (.2% of total viruses out there) for Unix/Linux (which the Mac OSX is based on). How many of these viruses if any even affect Macs is completely irrelevant since the likelihood of being infected is so remote in comparison.

 

[spineshank385]

kind of along these lines, i kept getting a message from the messenger service saying that my registry was corrupt and i needed to fix it. (i tried a registry cleaner a few months ago, don't do it).

every 5 minutes, the window came up. spybot didnt catch anything, either did norton, or trend's online scanner.

ended up reformatting. wiped everything. Used killdisk to clean all hard drives. Reinstall windows, 10 minutes later, BAM. there it is again. Needless to say, after getting latest updates from windows, i ended up disabling the messenger service.

 

[jjirsa78]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7866474#post7866474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gcarroll

Is it, or is it not less LIKELY to get a virus on an unprotected Mac running OSX vs. a Windows PC running virus protection software?

...

There are 485 viruses (.2% of total viruses out there) for Unix/Linux (which the Mac OSX is based on). How many of these viruses if any even affect Macs is completely irrelevant since the likelihood of being infected is so remote in comparison.

Yes, unpatched Mac is safer than unpatched Windows.
Yes, patched Mac is safer than patched Windows.

You're probably safer on Mac, but you shouldn't think that way - that's part of what leads you towards the Windows state of affairs.

As for Unix/Linux viruses, I believe there's a fundamental flaw in the counting of issues. Specifically, many are never reported as issues in the operating system, because they carry over from applications installed. Thus, they're labelled as 'holes' in the application, but when exploited, are almost never considered 'viruses'.

For example, if you run the webserver 'apache' (most common web software for linux, unix, and Mac OSX), there was recently (a day or two ago) a vulnerability in an addon called 'mod_rewrite' that allows arbitrary code execution - that is, if your Mac has the webserver enabled, you've got a hole that Apple hasn't patched yet (last I checked). It's not an apple hole, but it affects apple anyway, and that's the type of hole that most people don't consider.

How do you exploit it? You write a worm that runs on top of common interpretters (perl, bash, csh, something to make it platform independent) that exploits and spreads. You use built-in tools like wget and fetch to download a copy of yourself, and then you use the same tools to spread to new hosts. You'll never see such a worm in a virus report (very few exceptions), but it happens every day, and I see (and patch against, then ignore) these types of attacks thousands of times an hour.

 

[NicoleC]

virus <> worm <> hack <> trojan <> etc. etc.

Be careful when pulling numbers for a specific technical issue. Tech types tend to be very literal minded. (Ahem!)

You're somewhat safer until someone decides to write something particularly nasty to knock that chip off Mac users' shoulders. It's inevitable that it will happen, it's just a question of when. Be a good boyscout and be as prepared as possible - both with computer protection, good surfing habits... and frequent backups.

The last sentence applies to anyone on any platform, unless perhaps you are still nursing your Amiga along.

 

[NicoleC]

kind of along these lines, i kept getting a message from the messenger service saying that my registry was corrupt and i needed to fix it. (i tried a registry cleaner a few months ago, don't do it).

every 5 minutes, the window came up. spybot didnt catch anything, either did norton, or trend's online scanner.

ended up reformatting. wiped everything. Used killdisk to clean all hard drives. Reinstall windows, 10 minutes later, BAM. there it is again. Needless to say, after getting latest updates from windows, i ended up disabling the messenger service.

There was nothing wrong with your computer, it was an ad sent out randomly. Windows Messenger service (not to be confused with the instant meessenger application) is now turned off by default in Win XP, because the average computer user didn't know how to shut it off and didn't know enough to ask the right questions to learn how to shut it off, which was pretty easy to do. It's supposed to be there for company network admins to send out global messages to their users and there's no point in a home computer having it on.

Incidentally, one of the worst guys doing this got convicted. Yay!

 

[fc.pride]

first off, thanks for all your help guys and gals.
thank god for computer techs.
i went to this site....www.spywarewarrior.com
and followed their instructions on the forum. some tech guy responded and saved me....i think. i followed their advice and my comp seems ok now. i ran several adware, spybot and nortons and they all came back ok. im soooo relieved. didnt have to reformat..
oh, btw i am now switching to using firefox rather than int. expl. this should be better right?
now, if only growin sps was as easy..