Flashback Trojan Reportedly Infected Roughly 600,000 Macs Worldwide

[Akshay Masand]

Roughly 600,000 Macs around the world have been infected with a trojan horse virus named “Flashback” that surfaced last year and is believed to have created a botnet. The Russian antivirus company named Dr. Web issued a report recently noting that 550,000 computers running on mac OS X had been infected by BackDoor.Flashback variants of the virus.

An analyst of the company update the figure to note that the size of the botnet had reached 600,000 and pointed out that 274 bots are originating from Apple’s hometown of Cupertino, California. According to a map released by the firm, 56.6% of the infected computers are located in the United States. Canada was second with 19.8% followed by the U.K. with 12.8% of cases.

Apple recently released a Java Security update to resolve the vulnerabilities that the virus was exploiting, but unfortunately the virus had managed to infect a number of Mac users with the malicious software. Oracle first issued a fix for the vulnerability in February, which not too many people were able to utilize either.

The Flashback Trojan was first publicized in October with variants of the software even found disabling anti-malware protections within OS X. Researchers at F-Secure have provided instructions on how you can detect and remove the malware from your computer for those of you who are suspicious of being infected.

Source: Dr.Web, F-Secure

[nahzd]

So, this means that MAC users from now on will encounter "VIRUSES" so that Anti-virus companies can earn more?? WTF???!!!

[iLoveWindows&iPhone]

I am very surprised this article was so short. I was expecting it to go into much more detail about how OSX security was compromised, why, stats, explanations, opinions, etc. I assume the writers here get kind of baffled/confused when it is a negative topic regarding Apple, and want to keep it as short and quiet a story as possible.

[droop4]

So, this means that MAC users from now on will encounter "VIRUSES" so that Anti-virus companies can earn more?? WTF???!!!

a trojan is not a virus. Trojan and worms have been possible on OSX long before lion.

[KraXik]

Study conducted by a Russian firm and no Russian Macs were affected.

Hmmmm.......

[AUZambo]

This article is dead wrong. I've heard countless hundreds of times that Macs don't get these things.

[finkmac]

So, this means that MAC users from now on will encounter "VIRUSES" so that Anti-virus companies can earn more?? WTF???!!!

No, It just means to think before giving something your admin password.

[therandy]

study conducted by a russian firm and no russian macs were affected.

Hmmmm.......

lmao +1

[lkailburn]

Hahahahaha

[RyoSaeba]

Study conducted by a Russian firm and no Russian Macs were affected.

Hmmmm.......

In Russia, we infect the viruses...

Sorry.. couldn't resist.

[Phillip Swanson]

I am very surprised this article was so short. I was expecting it to go into much more detail about how OSX security was compromised, why, stats, explanations, opinions, etc. I assume the writers here get kind of baffled/confused when it is a negative topic regarding Apple, and want to keep it as short and quiet a story as possible.

If that were true we wouldn't have covered the story at all. But, a virus that infects 600,000 out of how many millions of macs out in the wild is pennies compared to the number of infected Windows devices. Apple isn't impervious to being compromised, but, you don't see every virus infecting Windows computers causing a huge media stink. Still, there has been plenty of coverage involving Apple's security issues, human/labor rights issues, and other negative Apple topics on the board. And yes the positive may outweigh the negative, but it's not like we're covering RIM here.

[ripped53]

I think my MBA may be infected. Time to search and fine out what needs to be done.

[steve-z17]

The only reason why people are making this a big deal is because its Mac, and Mac's don't usually get trojans/viruses like Windows does. No one cares about the new trojan/virus out on Windows cause it happens all the time. This isn't a big deal, just people making it a big deal...

I think my MBA may be infected. Time to search and fine out what needs to be done.

Just download and run a scan using iantivirus, it's free.

[Scotty Manley Silberhorn]

Or just just pay norton $30 a year and avoid all of this together. Their antivirus for lion is actually pretty legit now. I’m just saying I use my computer a lot, I have antivirus and yet I’m not infected. That’s amazing stuff. ~

[Silverado1987]

Even if it was 600,000 worldwide. That's petty overall

[Norb]

No, It just means to think before giving something your admin password.

This thing actually used a Java exploit that allowed it two points of entry: one if you entry you admin password and another if you have the affected Java versions.

[hitman10]

Should i get Norton is that only good after this virus was exposed?

[Xenthis]

Or just just pay norton $30 a year and avoid all of this together. Their antivirus for lion is actually pretty legit now. I’m just saying I use my computer a lot, I have antivirus and yet I’m not infected. That’s amazing stuff. ~

How are you sure that you aren't infected. Norton is a terrible antivirus software for pc and I am guessing the same for OSX - Download Sophos antivirus for macs. It is free and is amazing software.

[steve-z17]

Should i get Norton is that only good after this virus was exposed?

Just get iantivirus for mac, it's free and it does a thorough scan.

[hitman10]

Just get iantivirus for mac, it's free and it does a thorough scan.

Thanks for your tip.

I feel pretty crappy asking about this.. considering i've own a mac for more then 6 years now and never had to even think about it.