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Apple Security Update 2011-003 protects against MAC Defender

updated 05:05 pm EDT, Tue May 31, 2011

Snow Leopard to automatically update definitions


Apple has released Security Update 2011-003, a patch for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. The fix's main goal is protection against Mac Defender, a piece of malware that attempts to scam credit card numbers from people duped into installing it. A definition for Mac Defender has been added to File Quarantine, and when the code is detected Snow Leopard will try to remove it. The new safeguards cover both Mac Defender itself and unspecified variants.

The update also makes a quiet but significant change to Snow Leopard's behavior. The OS will now automatically update malware definitions, a practice common amongst third-party antivirus scanners, or Microsoft's first-party Security Essentials in the case of Windows. Mac owners can opt out of automatic updates by toggling "Automatically update safe downloads list" under Security Preferences.

The change may be an admission that the Mac is no longer a haven against malware. It moreover eases Apple's workload, allowing the company to push out definitions outside of major patches.


by MacNN Staff

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Comments

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  1. facebook_Clarence

    Via Facebook

    Joined: May 2011

    -21

    McOS

    Windows is way better and more secure.

  1. Foxypaco

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2010

    +8

    That's funny

    Because I haven't had a virus, malware, spyware, adware, etc. in 14 years. Ever since I dumped Windows 95.

  1. ff11

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2004

    0

    re McOS

    You can tell Windows is way better. Too bad none of the dozens of antivirus programs designed to make it secure can get the job done ... maybe the next version.

  1. Feathers

    Grizzled Veteran

    Joined: Oct 1999

    0

    Haven?

    The Mac was a haven against phishing scams and trojans because Apple users were generally smarter than their Windows counterparts. Unfortunately, with an expanding user base, the statistical average intelligence appears to be in modest decline. ;-)

    All the reporting on this issue, including here at MacNN, conveniently overlooks the fact that the "victims" willingly install this muck on their machines. What's the saying, the fault lies between chair and keyboard?

  1. SockRolid

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2010

    -3

    There. Done.

    See how easy that was?

  1. SockRolid

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2010

    +2

    Meanwhile, over in Windoze-land...

    LOL @ ff11 re: "You can tell Windows is way better."

    Way better because there are thousands of new Windows viruses every day?

  1. SockRolid

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2010

    +1

    Try Googling this

    You know Google has whored themselves out shamelessly when you search for this:

    "thousand new windows viruses per day"

    ... and the top result is this:

    "New Windows for your Home - Free In-House Estimates.
    Unbeatable Prices. Call Now For Great Savings!
    www.stupidwindowcompanyurl.com"

    I know it's off-topic. But that S*** deserves to be called out.

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