Viruses on OS X - Page 13

**fryke** · #97 August 16th, 2005, 04:27 PM

Hm. What are "low level memory resident viri out there" which "don't need an operating system to run"? In my not so humble opinion, those don't exist, really. And to catch one, they'd still have to "attack" OS X in the first place.

ElDiabloConCaca · #98 August 16th, 2005, 06:00 PM

No kidding -- plus, any virus meant to wreak havoc with a Windows partition simply will not work, since, even though we'll be using the same processor, the format on the hard drive will be completely different.

Viruses are very much dependent on an operating system -- that's what they're written to cause harm to: operating systems. The only way around this is to use a PC's BIOS to infect the computer, and, unless the virus can teleport itself into the BIOS, needs an operating system in order to be able to install itself. Show me a virus that can exist and infect a computer without the help of an operating system, and I'll show you a forum member eating his leather belt.

The truth is that this neither opens Mac OS X on Intel up for more viruses nor makes it more prone to getting a virus. People may be more enticed to write a virus after we gather a few more percentage points of market share, but that doesn't make us less secure. Why doesn't Linux have more viruses written for it, then? It's been running on x86 hardware for a decade or more and commands a decent share of the market -- possibly more than OS X. I think it's just proof that viruses are written specifically for operating systems by exploiting shoddy coding (which Windows has a lot of) and would be useless without an operating system -- after all, they are software, and require an OS to execute.

Shanda · #99 August 21st, 2005, 06:57 AM

Ok, I know there are no known viruses but my iBook is exhibiting what I was alwats told were the classic symptoms of a virus attack. The icons on my desktop constantly rearrange themselves and in the last couple of days I've noticed that the icons on my files have been changing - so basic txt file now display a photo of my cousins birthday cake among others.

I installed and ran Virex but with no known viruses it came up with 4 noncritical errors and that was all.

I used my install disk to run disk utility - which claimed there was nothing wrong with any of my partitions.

I have just noticed that when I empty the trash can the normal message icon (for 'Do you really want to empty - can't undo' message) that the icon has been replaced with the garage band file picture.

Has anyone else ever experienced similar issues?

MBHockey · #**100** August 21st, 2005, 07:42 AM

just either relaunch the Finder or reboot. I have never seen this on 10.4, but also experienced similar problems with the Finder confusing icons on 10.3 and earlier

ElDiabloConCaca · #**101** August 21st, 2005, 06:01 PM

Swapped images/icons are not indication of a virus, at least in this case. More likely a corrupt preference file or setting somewhere.

perfessor101 · #**102** August 21st, 2005, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElDiabloConCaca

Swapped images/icons are not indication of a virus, at least in this case. More likely a corrupt preference file or setting somewhere.

Most likely either the Launch Services database or possibly the Whatis database. Cocktail can rebuild both databases and I am sure there are other utilities as well as Unix commands that can do that as well.

Shanda · #**103** August 22nd, 2005, 07:38 AM

Cool. Thanks. Will have a look at that. Will see how it goes.

BlackFlag · #**104** September 15th, 2005, 03:50 PM

I got my first Mac (an iMac) about four years ago. I knew there were no viruses for OS X at the time, but I thought it would only be a matter of time before they started to get developed and so I got myself a copy of Norton AntiVirus so that I was prepared. Within a month of installing it I had more than one kernel panic!

I then bought a Powerbook about three years ago and installed NAV on it. I haven't had any problems or conflicts with it.

I originally bought NAV because in reviews it appeared to be the most efficient at picking up viruses and trojans. I guess it's a balancing act though as quite a few people have had problems as a result of installing it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanda

Ok, I know there are no known viruses but my iBook is exhibiting what I was alwats told were the classic symptoms of a virus attack. The icons on my desktop constantly rearrange themselves and in the last couple of days I've noticed that the icons on my files have been changing - so basic txt file now display a photo of my cousins birthday cake among others.

I get that! I'm currently running 10.3.8, and I've only had that problem since upgrading to 10.3.