Mac Users Alert

[rp]

Apple users targeted in first known Mac ransomware campaign

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple ... me=topNews

Some peeps here use macs so I thought I'd post this. More in the community are aware better it is for all (is there still a mac community?). If you use Transmission you better get on this right now. Funny I was just cleaning up and backing up. So now I'm making screen shots of the whole system in case I have to reinstall the OS and rebuild it all. Get me off my butt and do a computer spring cleaning at least.

BTW this also got me to start logging in as a user not admin. In theory it should keep bad things out of root level. I've always been too lazy to deal with that but it's time to start, not sure it helps with malware but this but good idea for everyone.

spread the word.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

I guess it had to happen sooner or later. I've been enjoying a free ride, unencumbered by antivirus software since 2008. I do not use transmission - but I went to Launchpad and searched for it, just in case I had installed it long ago and forgotten about it. It looks like I'm in the clear. At least, for now.

Thanks for the heads up, rp.
Lou

[xtian]

This is concerning. I use Transmission 2.90. From the article, though, it was a fairly narrow window of infection:

Users who have directly downloaded Transmission installer from official website after 11:00am PST, March 4, 2016 and before 7:00pm PST, March 5, 2016, may be been infected by KeRanger. If the Transmission installer was downloaded earlier or downloaded from any third-party websites, we also suggest users perform the following security checks. Users of older versions of Transmission do not appear to be affected as of now.

http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/03 ... chers-say/


http://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks. ... installer/

[xtian]

Here's the TL;DR. Skip to "How to Protect Yourself", about 80% of the way down this page, for instructions on detection:

http://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks. ... installer/

[rp]

Not sure what that means, whether it's in the fresh installer or can be gotten from the update. Seems the latter as I've had Transmission on this from 2011. I just checked the updated and you get a FREAK OUT RED update warning, so best do it. Seems you need to keep updating too as the bug moves through the updates. 2.9.1 is already infected according to the freak out red warning. It's the malware apocalypse! The aluminum shell of my MBP should make a decent trowel for growing vegetables. Hope planes don't start falling out of the sky.

We smug mac jerks deserve it

[rp]

http://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks. ... installer/

That was useful. Seems I'm good. Thanks.