poor macs

New Botnet Threatens Mac Computers

by Tim Stevens — Apr 23rd 2009 at 11:16AM
New Botnet Targets Mac ComputersFor years now, Mac users have flaunted their seeming immunity to computer viruses, malware, and other noxious applications that plague the hearts, minds, and hard drives of PC users. However, there have been exceptions to the Mac's invincible reputation, like the one app from last summer that stole photos and all sorts of other information. According to security software firm Symantec, there's another one on the loose, turning Apple computers into zombies.

The app is (somewhat humorously) called iBotnet, and it runs quietly in the background after its taken control of your Mac computer. It then allows the crooks who distributed the software to use the infected machines for their nefarious means, doing whatever they like. That's the essence of the botnet. Only a few thousand Macs are infected, but, given the general lack of virus protection on most Apple computers, that's a number that could quickly balloon.

What can you do? Well, if you're on a Mac, it's time to start watching what you click and download, just as your PC brethren have been doing for years. And perhaps it's time to be a little less self-sure, too. [From: CNN]