Message-ID: <28749c0e0711011527m70a6e537j4b75d18e24dd5a22@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 15:27:55 -0700
From: nnp <version5@...il.com>
To: "Alex Eckelberry" <AlexE@...belt-software.com>
Cc: "Thor (Hammer of God)" <thor@...merofgod.com>,
	"Gadi Evron" <ge@...uxbox.org>, bugtraq@...urityfocus.com,
	full-disclosure@...ts.grok.org.uk
Subject: Re: mac trojan in-the-wild

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There's a difference between ignoring something and making a statement like

'OS X is the new Windows 98.'

Its sensationalist and of no use, especially when posted to lists that
are supposedly populated with security experts. Everyone here is aware
of the consequences of malware and the manipulation of end users to
spread it. Of course its interesting that a criminal group has taken
to spreading this but hyping up the consequences of it do nobody any
good and is just spreading FUD. To me it seems like the original
poster is trying to get a quote in some tech/security/computer
magazine.

No one is suggesting that this the propogation of this malware amoung
macs isn't a threat and that its supposed mass spreading by a criminal
group is of course a cause for worry. What we have an issue with is
the manner in which it is reported and the hyberbole thats is becoming
more and more prevalent amoung security experts seeking to promote
themselves and their companies.

A useful post on this matter would be one that includes an analysis of
the malware itself, perhaps some statistics on its prevalence etc. i.e
hard facts

Some people would do well to remember that we are supposedly engineers
and scientists, not journalists and fiction writers.

- --nnp
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On 11/1/07, Alex Eckelberry <AlexE@...belt-software.com> wrote:
> > Let's not over-hype this-- while "Apple's day" has been coming, saying
> that users will be "hit hard" on something the user has to
> > manually download, manually execute, and explicitly grant
> administrative privileges to is *way* over the top.
>
> The future of malware is going to be largely through social engineering.
> Does that mean we ignore every threat that comes out because it requires
> user interaction?  Seems like whistling past the graveyard to me.
>
> Alex
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thor (Hammer of God) [mailto:thor@...merofgod.com]
> Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 8:15 PM
> To: Gadi Evron; bugtraq@...urityfocus.com;
> full-disclosure@...ts.grok.org.uk
> Subject: RE: mac trojan in-the-wild
>
> > For whoever didn't hear, there is a Macintosh trojan in-the-wild being
>
> > dropped, infecting mac users.
> > Yes, it is being done by a regular online gang--itw--it is not yet
> > another proof of concept. The same gang infects Windows machines as
> > well, just that now they also target macs.
> >
> > http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/screenshot-of-new-mac-
> > trojan.html
> > http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/mackanapes-can-now-can-feel-
> > pain-of.html
> >
> > This means one thing: Apple's day has finally come and Apple users are
>
> > going to get hit hard. All those unpatched vulnerabilities from years
> > past are going to bite them in the behind.
>
> Let's not over-hype this-- while "Apple's day" has been coming, saying
> that users will be "hit hard" on something the user has to manually
> download, manually execute, and explicitly grant administrative
> privileges to is *way* over the top.
>
>
>
> > I can sum it up in one sentence: OS X is the new Windows 98. Investing
>
> > in security ONLY as a last resort losses money, but everyone has to
> > learn it for themselves.
>
> Not "the new Windows 98" by a long shot - saying that is just
> irresponsible.  While Apple is not used to dealing with security in the
> same way that other companies are, comparing OSX to Windows 98 is not
> only a huge technical inaccuracy, but you also insult MAC users out
> there.  OSX had "UAC-like unprivileged user controls" way before Vista
> did - let's not try to start some holy-war on this like people have
> tried to do with Windows vs Linux in the past.
>
> If you want to report this, then report it-- but say what it is, a
> totally lame user-must-be-drunk "exploit" that requires that all manner
> of things go wrong before it works -- otherwise people will think that
> you've dressed up as Steve Gibson for Halloween.
>
> t
>


-- 
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