PoC Macarena virus targets Mac OS X
Security researchers today reported a replicating proof-of-concept virus
affecting Mac OS X platforms.
Named OS X/Macarena by Symantec, the malware replicates itself but does not
contain a payload. When executed, it infects running files in whatever
folder a user happens to be working in at the time, Peter Ferrie, a senior
anti-virus researcher at Symantec, said in an advisory.
While the virus is considered low-risk and can easily be removed, its
presence is significant because it affects OS X, considered far more secure
than Windows.
But Apple users should not take their platform's security for granted,
experts said.
"As we said before, the ability to have viruses and all sorts of other
malware is inherently available in all modern operating systems, Mac, Linux,
BSD included," said handler Swa Frantzen, posting today on the SANS Internet
Storm Center website. "It is a warning to get anti-virus protection for
those Macs, even if the shopkeeper told you you do not need it, even if
there are no viruses in the wild today, even if it's hard to buy it and even
if the anti-virus vendors seem not to know what they (are talking) about."
In February, experts discovered what is believed to be the first virus
engineered to attack the Mac OS X platform. The virus, named Leap-A, spread
via the iChat instant messaging system.
An Apple spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment today.
|
|