Haha. Guess it was bound to happen. Virus attacking Apple Macintosh PCs found-experts Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:29 PM ET10 SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A malicious computer worm has been found that targets Apple Computer Inc.'s Mac OS X operating system, believed to be the first such virus aimed specifically at the Mac platform. The worm is called OSX/Leap-A, according to a posting on the Web site of antivirus software company Sophos, which said the worm is spread via instant messaging programs. The worm attempts to spread via Apple's iChat instant messaging program, which is compatible with America Online's popular AIM instant messaging program, according to the Sophos Web site. The worm sends itself to available contacts on the infected users' buddy list in a file called "latestpics.tgz," according to the Sophos Web site. The vast majority of malicious hacks are aimed at Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system and some of its products, largely because Microsoft has more than 90 percent of the market for computer operating systems. "This first Macintosh OS X threat is an example of the continuing spread of malicious code on to other platforms," said Vincent Weafer, senior director at Symantec Security Response, in a statement. The worm will not automatically infect Mac computers, but will ask users to accept the file, Weafer said. Symantec ranked the new worm as a Level 1 threat (with 5 being the most severe). An Apple spokesperson was not immediately available to comment. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Good post.............. buddy list in a file called "latestpics.tgz," sure sounds like a virus. how about "hotbikinipics"? lol
The file is a compressed Unix shell program. The user is prompted for admin credentials to launch the malicious code, which is better described as a Trojan than a virus. Mac OS X users who do this will find their machines infected. Leap-A shows other platforms are also vulnerable.
