FlashBack doom recedes for now

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FlashBack doom recedes for now

20 April 2012 1,073 views 4 Comments

About 10 days ago, security experts — the kind that make their bread selling antivirus software — warned that more than 600,000 Macs had been infected by FlashBack. Depending on who’s doing the counting that’s 1 percent of Apple’s Mac installed base, which as these things goes was significant.

A couple days ago an infected Mac roll call revealed 140,000 still under FlashBack’s malevolent thrall.

Yesterday around the close business, Kaspersky Labs noted (MacFixIt) that 30,000 Macs were still infected. That’s fairly negligible and reaching those remaining folks will probably be well nigh impossible as they a.) live under a rock (a.k.a mom’s basement) and/or b.) likely aren’t amenable to reason (i.e. the Mac is totally secure, natch!).

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So has the threat subsided? As regards this variant of FlashBack, yeah, for the time being. But only for those that have applied Apple’s patches (links below) and taken proper precautions.

Because FlashBack has been so successful across multiple incarnations for nearly a year, you’ve got to believe the people behind it will be back to spread more mayhem.

That said, get safe and stay safe — Top 10 free ways to secure your Mac…

What’s your take?

Recent security posts:
— Get Parallels 7, Kasperky Internet Security together for $79.99
— Apple ships stand-alone Flashback Malware Removal Tool
— Apple’s Java patch removes Flashback, but not all variants
— Apple lays Mac App, iTunes, iOS stores double authentication groundwork
— OpenDNS blocks Flashback Trojan

4 Comments »

Is my Mac iCloud compatible? | FairerPlatform said:

[...] to upgrade? Recent Mac posts: — Snow Leopard giveaway: Apple showing a light touch — FlashBack doom recedes for now — Why Thunderbolt is [almost] ready for prime time — Eau de MacBook Pro, for Apple lovers [...]

# 23 April 2012 at 1:05 am

Most common malware on Mac doesn't affect the rest of us | FairerPlatform said:

[...] ComputerWorld Recent security posts: — FlashBack doom recedes for now — Get Parallels 7, Kasperky Internet Security together for $79.99 — Apple’s Java patch [...]

# 26 April 2012 at 8:52 am

ClamXav 2.2.5: Tweaks Sentry, fixes auto-update issue | FairerPlatform said:

[...] available direct from developer Mark Allen or via the Mac App Store. Recent security posts: — FlashBack doom recedes for now — Get Parallels 7, Kasperky Internet Security together for $79.99 — Apple ships stand-alone [...]

# 30 April 2012 at 12:37 am

Dr Web data underscores need to get, apply OS X, Java updates | FairerPlatform said:

[...] Macs harbor PC viruses — ClamXav 2.2.5: Tweaks Sentry, fixes auto-update issue — FlashBack doom recedes for now — Apple’s Java patch removes Flashback, but not all variants — Apple lays Mac App, iTunes, [...]

# 30 April 2012 at 3:48 pm