Apple will be issuing a software update in response to a recent increase of malware attacks on Macs. The malware, which pops up on computers under MacDefender, MacProtector or MacSecurity, has been targeting Mac users for the past few weeks.
Apple said it will be updating its Mac OS X software. The update will automatically remove the malware and its known variants that try to trick users into entering credit card information. The malware program works by alerting users that they have a virus on their computer, and then offers to remove it if users enter a credit card number to purchase the software.
While users are waiting for the Mac OS X update, Apple’s support page is issuing instructions for removing the malware on their site. It is possible that the attacking malware interferes with anti-virus programs, so even users who have anti-virus software might want to take precautions and follow Apple’s instructions.
The instructions on the support page tell users to avoid installing the software in the first place – either by quitting the browser, or if that doesn’t work, then by a “Force Quit” from the browser. If the malware installer automatically downloads, users can go to the download folder and drag the installer to the trash.
Here is some advice to user to avoid the phishing scam: Firstly and most importantly, do not give your credit card number or other personal information to any pop-up from the Internet, ever. Secondly, if anything on the Internet tells you something is wrong with your computer, do not be gullible and believe it. You want to get as far away as you can from that king of stuff.
While this advice might be common sense to some users, the fact is that Apple users didn’t have to worry too much about scams in the past, which could make users susceptible to opening these scams now. Most scammers target PC’s because they are the vast majority of computers. However, Macs have become very popular, which makes them a new target for scammers.
To combat this, Apple does have some recommendations for anti-malware software and provides several staff picks for outside software on its site. Apple provides security updates exclusively for Macs with their software updates, such as the update that will automatically get rid of the malware like MacDefender.