#macprotector

Summary

A recent phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus. The user is then offered Mac Defender "anti-virus" software to solve the issue. This “anti-virus” software is malware (i.e. malicious software).  Its ultimate goal is to get the user's credit card information which may be used for fraudulent purposes. The most common names for this malware are MacDefender, MacProtector and MacSecurity.  In the coming days, Apple will deliver a Mac OS X software update that will automatically find and remove Mac Defender malware and its known variants.  The update will also help protect users by providing an explicit warning if they download this malware.  In the meantime, the Resolution section below provides step-by-step instructions on how to avoid or manually remove this malware.

Products Affected

Mac OS X 10.4, Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS X 10.5

Resolution

How to avoid installing this malware

If any notifications about viruses or security software appear, quit Safari or any other browser that you are using. If a normal attempt at quitting the browser doesn’t work, then Force Quit the browser.

In some cases, your browser may automatically download and launch the installer for this malicious software.  If this happens, cancel the installation process; do not enter your administrator password.  Delete the installer immediately using the steps below.

Go into the Downloads folder or your preferred download location.

Drag the installer to the Trash. 

Empty the Trash.

How to remove this malware

If the malware has been installed, we recommend the following actions:

Do not provide your credit card information under any circumstances.

Use the Removal Steps below.

Removal steps

Move or close the Scan Window

Go to the Utilities folder in the Applications folder and launch Activity Monitor  

Choose All Processes from the pop up menu in the upper right corner of the window

Under the Process Name column, look for the name of the app and click to select it; common app names include: MacDefender, MacSecurity or MacProtector

Click the Quit Process button in the upper left corner of the window and select Quit

Quit Activity Monitor application

Open the Applications folder

Locate the app ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector or other name

Drag to Trash, and empty Trash

Malware also installs a login item in your account in System Preferences. Removal of the login item is not necessary, but you can remove it by following the steps below.

Open System Preferences, select Accounts, then Login Items

Select the name of the app you removed in the steps above ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector

Click the minus button

Use the steps in the “How to avoid installing this malware” section above to remove the installer from the download location. Note: Apple provides security updates for the Mac exclusively through Software Update and the Apple Support Downloads site. User should exercise caution any time they are asked to enter sensitive personal information online.

A Microsoft diz que o falso antivírus que tem vindo a ser disseminado pelos computadores da Apple foi criado por um gang que também já fez estragos nos sistemas operativos Windows.

MacDefender, MacSecurity e MacProtector: os nomes ostentam credibilidade, mas estão longe de serem os antivírus que apregoam. Na verdade, apenas são aplicações que abrem janelas e pop ups que tentam enganar utilizadores com falsos alertas de infeção e que têm como elementos distintivos o facto de prometerem a "cura" da infeção a troco de um alegado licenciamento que está avaliado em 79,5 dólares.