On CBS MoneyWatch: Why Debit Cards Are Dangerous
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 7 of 137:
Next »
« Previous
there is one flaw
the flaw that you can get hit through mail or Safari from, is a flaw in the OS. You can get it just from having the file and double clicking it. It is harder for catch because you can make the file look like its anything you want it to look like. The proof of concept one chose a .jpg. It looks like a .jpg at casual glance, but when you run it it launches Terminal.app instead and runs a script. This is possible to make a file that looks just like a word document that you think is safe, and you double click to open, and all your user data is deleted.... etc...

Yes if you use Get Info, it will show it as being an application, not a jpeg file, but some people dont look that close. Apple needs to fix this so nothing can launch a script in terminal, without the user being told its going to launch a script. The command line is as dangerous as it is useful.
Posted by: doh123   Posted on: 02/27/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

It's Just a Matter of Time...  jpr75_z | 02/27/06
Safe no more.  Mr. Roboto | 02/27/06
Being targetted by virus-writers is one thing...  Zogg | 02/27/06
If you Knoppix..  cashaww | 02/28/06
Brings smug Mac users down a peg...  aurora7795 | 02/27/06
Nothing has changed, this all FUD.  olePigeon | 02/27/06
there is one flaw  doh123 | 02/27/06
Is it? Yes it is , its all user side.  crampy20 | 02/27/06
Don't under estimate  Loverock Davidson | 02/27/06
How can I infect your Mac?  Uncle Buck | 02/27/06
How can I infect your mac?  Uncle Buck | 02/27/06
Exactly, but this doesn't change OS X's security.  olePigeon | 02/27/06
its not all user side.  doh123 | 02/27/06
Wow  IT Scion | 02/27/06
lol  crampy20 | 02/28/06
Is Mac OS as safe as ever?  Loverock Davidson | 02/27/06
What me worry?  Laff | 02/27/06
You are the audience that this article ...  ShadeTree | 02/27/06
Don't be completely worry free  Loverock Davidson | 02/27/06
As a general rule I NEVER trust.....:)  Laff | 02/27/06
Then what is OSX's advantage?  NonZealot | 02/27/06
Hmmmmm let's do some math shall we?  Laff | 02/27/06
Math doesn't look good for OSX!  NonZealot | 02/27/06
Three in one  baggins_z | 02/27/06
First of all not being a trusing soul is a lifestyle policy  Laff | 02/27/06
NZ--be realistic  tic swayback | 02/27/06
Flawed Argument  SquishyParts | 02/27/06
You are confused  NonZealot | 02/28/06
Do not get a Mac...  Anon_ymous | 02/27/06
I think I will  Loverock Davidson | 02/27/06
Riiiight...  BitTwiddler | 02/27/06
Right  Loverock Davidson | 02/27/06
The "Same"  SquishyParts | 02/27/06
How do we know the score?  Uncle Buck | 02/27/06
Why waste your money?  tic swayback | 02/27/06
problems in paradise  Amberhawk | 02/27/06
Fetish for file types  LittleGuy | 02/27/06
No need  baggins_z | 02/27/06
No need for file extensions  thunderdome1 | 02/28/06
Same mechanism as Klez and Sircam on Windows  Knorthern Knight | 11/28/06
Yes, Mac has been very safe, really about zero exploits of any  DonnieBoy | 02/27/06
I still play it safe.  ben.kreeger | 02/27/06
Clam  Bill4 | 02/27/06
No OS is safe.  theace18 | 02/27/06
You're a genius.  A_Pickle | 02/27/06
Regardless...NEVER USE SYMANTEC! for protection.  Anon_ymous | 02/27/06
Symantec Norton AV  Bill4 | 02/27/06
Although you really don't need AV protection on a Mac...  IT_Guy_z | 02/27/06
"Although you really don't need AV protection on a Mac..."  IT_Guy_z | 02/27/06
PC & Mac  Bill4 | 02/27/06
I use a Mac (and am my own IT person) BECAUSE I'm clueless  labarker | 02/27/06
It's the fundies  thunderdome1 | 02/28/06
NEVER USE SYMANTEC?  woodymiller | 02/27/06
Opposite experience here...  ajole | 02/27/06
So far, there have been no reports...  Uncle Buck | 02/27/06
Easy  bpick_z | 02/27/06
You would know  tic swayback | 02/27/06
Seriously underestimating...  NonZealot | 02/27/06
is it a worm?  doh123 | 02/27/06
It's not a worm  tic swayback | 02/27/06
Yes, the hackers and crackers are more interested in it  Boot_Agnostic | 02/27/06
The completely safe computer  the_doge | 02/27/06
Exactly!  ajole | 02/27/06
Mac OS is not safer now  bidemytime | 02/27/06
This reads like a Press Release  tic swayback | 02/27/06
Is this apple's problem?  crampy20 | 02/27/06
MAC OS X Security  alanrbriggs | 02/27/06
Are you sure about this?  ajole | 02/27/06
No OS is invulnerable!  georgep_z | 02/27/06
Of course they are vulnerable  richdave | 02/27/06
Is Mac OS as safe as ever?  richdave | 02/27/06
"Is Mac OS as safe as ever?" The answer is YES!  Laff | 02/27/06
RE: "Is Mac OS as safe as ever?" The answer is YES!  richdave | 02/27/06
And the ansers are still yes and obviously you....:)  Laff | 02/28/06
Sigh  Shelendrea | 02/27/06
"Where the numbers may be concerned"  tic swayback | 02/27/06
Your post is not accurate  NonZealot | 02/27/06
Your post is not accurate  NonZealot | 02/27/06
How so?  tic swayback | 02/27/06
Here's how so  NonZealot | 02/27/06
Still some vulnerabilities  thunderdome1 | 02/28/06
Name them  NonZealot | 02/28/06
Windows Update shows it  thunderdome1 | 03/01/06
Define "easy"  tic swayback | 02/28/06
Long reply!!  NonZealot | 02/28/06
Privilege Escalation  tic swayback | 02/28/06
Yes, it is a problem on all OSs  NonZealot | 02/28/06
my point being  Shelendrea | 02/27/06
Just ingore the extremes then  tic swayback | 02/27/06
Bad Logic  ajole | 02/27/06
Really bad analogy  tic swayback | 02/28/06
It's not the number of flaws, it's the attacks.  ajole | 02/28/06
How can you be so sure  tic swayback | 02/28/06
I agree, its not 100%  ajole | 03/01/06
Just thought of another possible reason...  ajole | 03/01/06
You accuse him of making a bad analogy?  NonZealot | 02/28/06
It's about numbers  thunderdome1 | 02/28/06
No, you don't read!  NonZealot | 02/28/06
Speaking of not reading...  tic swayback | 02/28/06
Yes, speaking of not reading!!  NonZealot | 02/28/06
I apologize, I missed your last statement  NonZealot | 02/28/06
NZ--you're not the only one here  tic swayback | 02/28/06
It wouldn't be fun if I was!!  NonZealot | 02/28/06
Arbitrary rules  tic swayback | 02/28/06
I read, and understand  thunderdome1 | 03/01/06
Don't try to speak for the rest of us  tic swayback | 02/28/06
My logic? Uh oh  NonZealot | 02/28/06
Again, you're trying to speak for others  tic swayback | 02/28/06
Nope, you are speaking for others  NonZealot | 02/28/06
Wherever did you get this idea?  tic swayback | 02/28/06
tic: merging 2 threads  NonZealot | 02/28/06
Ooh, good argument  tic swayback | 02/28/06
Lousy Reporting  joe_coder | 02/27/06
Not sure I agree in this case  tic swayback | 02/27/06
it is an OS problem  doh123 | 02/27/06
But in the media world, its good enough  ajole | 03/01/06
Incorrect use of zealot  thunderdome1 | 02/28/06
This is acceptable???  richdave | 02/27/06
Troll Alert  joe_coder | 02/27/06
There is a patch  MacGeek2121 | 02/27/06
Don't be silly, it's probably closer to 95,  ajole | 02/27/06
You're an idiot  thunderdome1 | 02/28/06
Is Windows OS as vulnerable as ever?  georgep_z | 02/27/06
Dude  Shelendrea | 02/27/06
The proof is in the pudding.  papatator | 02/27/06
Faster processors equal more popular OS?  ajole | 02/27/06
This is what PC users have always said...  ajole | 02/27/06
reasons  SquishyParts | 02/27/06
this is not a worm if you have any common...  BW1977 | 02/27/06
Securing OSX despite threats  Alex Santos | 02/28/06
MacO/S merely SMALL POTATOES for hackers  Feldwebel Wolfenstool | 02/28/06
Just keep telling yourself that.......:)  Laff | 02/28/06
Exactly. (NT)  NonZealot | 02/28/06
90%-95%  thunderdome1 | 02/28/06
Is OS/2 as dead as ever?  Boot_Agnostic | 02/28/06
It's Nice Being Alice, But Then...  bobhog | 03/01/06
Will they see the light?  zaphod@... | 03/02/06

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
advertisement

SmartPlanet

  • Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
  • More from IBM
  • Innovate your business' process model, play against the market, compete against others on our scoreboards and WIN! Try INNOV8 2.0: A BPM Simulator
  • Enabling Real-World Business Transformation through IBM Service Management Read the EMA Analyst Report
Click Here