2012
ProtectMac AntiVirus 1.3.1
09/11/12 14:41
ProtectMac AntiVirus, version 1.3.1 is now available. The new version includes enhancements to the scanning engine, improvements to the Reveal in Finder feature and the ability to enable and disable ProtectMac AntiVirus directly from the menu bar.
Users who have ProtectMac AntiVirus installed and Check For Updates enabled (set by default) in the ProtectMac Updating preferences will be automatically updated to Version 1.3.1.
Users can also manually check for new updates by selecting Check For Updates from the ProtectMac menu bar icon or via the ProtectMac Updating preferences.
Select About ProtectMac AntiVirus... from the application’s menu to check the version of ProtectMac AntiVirus installed.
ProtectMac AntiVirus OS X Mountain Lion Version
25/07/12 17:29
A new version of ProtectMac AntiVirus, version 1.3, has been released that is fully compatible with OS X Mountain Lion.
Anyone who already has ProtectMac AntiVirus installed and Check For Updates enabled (set by default) in the ProtectMac Updating preferences will be automatically updated to Version 1.3.
To verify the version of ProtectMac AntiVirus installed select About ProtectMac AntiVirus... from the application’s menu.
Users can manually check for new updates at anytime by selecting Check For Updates from the ProtectMac menu bar icon at the top right of their computer screen or via the ProtectMac Updating preferences.
ProtectMac AntiVirus Version 1.3 is now available as two installers, one for OS X Tiger 10.4 and one for OS X 10.5 or later, including Mountain Lion. Both installers are available via the Downloads page and allow users to run a fully featured of version of the software freely for 30 days. A product license key can be entered during the 30-day period or any time afterwards to reenable all the features of the antivirus security.
Apple release OS X Mountain Lion
25/07/12 10:35
OS X Mountain Lion
The latest version of the Apple’s desktop operating system, OS X Mountain Lion, is now available via the Mac App Store (You can’t miss it:). At a cost of $19.99 Apple have priced the upgrade attractively for all 10.6.8 users and above. One note of caution, at a hefty 4.05GB you’ll need to have fast internet and plenty of patience to get hold of it!
The new OS version contains several major additions and many more lessor improvements to entice the discerning Mac user, in fact Apple boast over 200 new features in the last OS X upgrade.
Mountain Lion also moves closer to resemble iOS with new messages, notifications, reminders and game center. With a heavy influence on ’synching and sharing’ users can expect to find it easier to access information on iCloud across their many Apple devices and post messages and images directly to their favourite social network like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Vimeo. Voice, too, is scheduled to play a bigger part in the new OS.
OS X Mountain Lion also come with Apple’s GateKeeper technology, which helps protect your computer from malicious or unauthorized applications and only allows legitimate software to be installed from either the Mac App Store or from recognised third-party Apple Developers.
**ProtectMac AntiVirus v1.3 fully supports GateKeeper and OS X Mountain Lion.
Mountain Lion General Requirements:
- 10.6.8 or later
- Intel Computer
- 2GB RAM minimum (more is better)
- 8GB of disk space
- Some features require an Apple ID
- Some features require Internet access
Compatible computers:
- iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminium, or Early 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
Full Technical Specification
Apple Java Security Update - Flashback checker and cleanup
12/04/12 22:59
Apple has released an additional security update for all Mac OS X 10.6 and OS X Lion 10.7 users that is designed to help counteract and cleanup the Flashback Trojan threat that has been circulating over the past few weeks. The update performs several task:
1. It deactivates the Java browser plugin and Java web start if it is unused for 35 days (this appears to be OS X Lion only).
2. It runs a Flashback malware removal tool to cleanup any infections of the most common variants of Flashback on the user ’s computer (and as far as we can determine it deletes itself after running).
Note: the removal tool will not display any feedback if there’s no Flashback threat present.
3. And finally, it updates the XProtect list of malware for the most common variants of Flashback so as to prevent any further downloads of the current Flashback threat.
We recommend that users not wait 35 days for the Java browser plugin to be disabled automatically and do it now from within their web browser. Information on how to disable Java within your web browser can be found here.
We also recommend that you keep your Mac updated with the latest security updates from Apple via Software Update at all times. If you have a version of Java installed earlier than 1.6.0_31-b04-415 then select ‘Software Update’ from the Apple menu at the top-left of your computer screen. Better still check your ’Software Update’ System preferences and ensure that they are set to check daily and ‘Download updates automatically’ from Apple.
To establish which version of Java you have installed on your Mac, run the 'Java Preferences' application in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder or type 'java -version' in Apple's Terminal utility.
Note: Java is not delivered by default with OS X Lion, the first time a user attempts to run a Java applet the system will prompt them to install the necessary component.
Further information about the Java security update can be found here http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5247
1. It deactivates the Java browser plugin and Java web start if it is unused for 35 days (this appears to be OS X Lion only).
2. It runs a Flashback malware removal tool to cleanup any infections of the most common variants of Flashback on the user ’s computer (and as far as we can determine it deletes itself after running).
Note: the removal tool will not display any feedback if there’s no Flashback threat present.
3. And finally, it updates the XProtect list of malware for the most common variants of Flashback so as to prevent any further downloads of the current Flashback threat.
We recommend that users not wait 35 days for the Java browser plugin to be disabled automatically and do it now from within their web browser. Information on how to disable Java within your web browser can be found here.
We also recommend that you keep your Mac updated with the latest security updates from Apple via Software Update at all times. If you have a version of Java installed earlier than 1.6.0_31-b04-415 then select ‘Software Update’ from the Apple menu at the top-left of your computer screen. Better still check your ’Software Update’ System preferences and ensure that they are set to check daily and ‘Download updates automatically’ from Apple.
To establish which version of Java you have installed on your Mac, run the 'Java Preferences' application in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder or type 'java -version' in Apple's Terminal utility.
Note: Java is not delivered by default with OS X Lion, the first time a user attempts to run a Java applet the system will prompt them to install the necessary component.
Further information about the Java security update can be found here http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5247
Apple release Java update to combat Security vulnerability
03/04/12 15:35
Apple has released a security update for all Mac OS X 10.6.8 and OS X Lion 10.7.3 users.
The update fixes multiple vulnerabilities in Java 1.6.0_29, the mosts serious of which has been exploited recently and could allow virus writers remote access to infected computers. Reports by Digital Trends suggest as many as 600,000 Macs worldwide have been compromised by the Flashback threat, OSX.Flashback.
Mac users can become infected by visiting a malicious webpage containing a specially crafted java applet that will run and install the threat.
To establish which version of Java you have installed on your Mac, run apple’s Terminal utility and type “java -version”. If you have a version earlier than 1.6.0_31 then select ‘Software Update’ from the Apple menu at the top-left of your computer screen.
Note: Java is not delivered by default with OS X Lion, the first time a user attempts to run a Java applet the system will prompt them to install the necessary component.
We strongly recommend that you keep your Mac updated with the latest security updates from Apple via Software Update at all times. Depending on whether you already have Java installed on your computer will determine if this latest security update is downloaded.
One additional measure users can take is to disable Java within their web browser.
Full details of the security update can be found on the Apple website http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5228
The update fixes multiple vulnerabilities in Java 1.6.0_29, the mosts serious of which has been exploited recently and could allow virus writers remote access to infected computers. Reports by Digital Trends suggest as many as 600,000 Macs worldwide have been compromised by the Flashback threat, OSX.Flashback.
Mac users can become infected by visiting a malicious webpage containing a specially crafted java applet that will run and install the threat.
To establish which version of Java you have installed on your Mac, run apple’s Terminal utility and type “java -version”. If you have a version earlier than 1.6.0_31 then select ‘Software Update’ from the Apple menu at the top-left of your computer screen.
Note: Java is not delivered by default with OS X Lion, the first time a user attempts to run a Java applet the system will prompt them to install the necessary component.
We strongly recommend that you keep your Mac updated with the latest security updates from Apple via Software Update at all times. Depending on whether you already have Java installed on your computer will determine if this latest security update is downloaded.
One additional measure users can take is to disable Java within their web browser.
Full details of the security update can be found on the Apple website http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5228
Microsoft Word vulnerabilty threat
30/03/12 11:24
Malicious Word documents that take advantage of an old vulnerability in Microsoft Office have been discovered doing the rounds.
The trojan, OSX.Word.Malware, is installed when a user opens a ‘specifically crafted’ Word doc, allowing the hacker to take complete control of an infected computer.
The ‘critical’ vulnerability affects Mac versions of the following Microsoft products, Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac and OpenXML File Format Converter for Mac.
Users who keep their installations of Microsoft Office up to date with the latest security patches from Microsoft are not at risk from this threat.
Note: This vulnerability was first reported in 2009 and affects both Mac OS X and Windows computers. Further details can be found in the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-027 - Critical
Be careful when opening unsolicited Word documents, especially ones pertaining to Tibet, and if you have not applied the Microsoft patch then it is recommend that you update your installation of Microsoft Office immediately.
The trojan, OSX.Word.Malware, is installed when a user opens a ‘specifically crafted’ Word doc, allowing the hacker to take complete control of an infected computer.
The ‘critical’ vulnerability affects Mac versions of the following Microsoft products, Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac and OpenXML File Format Converter for Mac.
Users who keep their installations of Microsoft Office up to date with the latest security patches from Microsoft are not at risk from this threat.
Note: This vulnerability was first reported in 2009 and affects both Mac OS X and Windows computers. Further details can be found in the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-027 - Critical
Be careful when opening unsolicited Word documents, especially ones pertaining to Tibet, and if you have not applied the Microsoft patch then it is recommend that you update your installation of Microsoft Office immediately.
Java Trojan circulating
23/03/12 11:06
A trojan threat, Trojan.OSX.Generic, that manipulates of a Java vulnerability within Mac OS X has been discovered.
The threat, also known as Tibet, is delivered when a user visits a ‘poisoned’ website; a Java applet is downloaded and if the computer is not protected the backdoor trojan will be installed.
Like most trojans, the purpose of this threat is to gather personal and sensitive information and potentially allow a remote user control of your computer.
Users who keep their computer up to date with the latest security patches from Apple via Software Update are not at risk from this threat.
Although it may cause viewing issues on a small number of websites, one additional measure users can take is to disable Java in Safari’s Security preferences.
The threat, also known as Tibet, is delivered when a user visits a ‘poisoned’ website; a Java applet is downloaded and if the computer is not protected the backdoor trojan will be installed.
Like most trojans, the purpose of this threat is to gather personal and sensitive information and potentially allow a remote user control of your computer.
Users who keep their computer up to date with the latest security patches from Apple via Software Update are not at risk from this threat.
Although it may cause viewing issues on a small number of websites, one additional measure users can take is to disable Java in Safari’s Security preferences.
Imuler variant discovered Trojan.OSX.Imuler
19/03/12 13:14
A variant of the Imuler trojan horse has been discovered that pretends to be an image file but is in fact a trojan application that installs itself when double-clicked.
If the trojan is run, not only can it allow remote hackers access to your computer, it deletes the original file you downloaded and replaces it with a jpeg image of the icon, making it more difficult to realise something suspicious has has actually been downloaded.
The idea of disguising a file to appear as something else has been used by hackers for many years. On Mac OS X typically the file extension is not shown so the user is inclined to simply double-click the file, trusting that the icon reflects the true nature of the contents. Unfortunately, in this instance that is sadly not the case.
As a general rule you should only download files from trusted websites and don’t assume that because a file icon looks like a document or an image that it really is what it’s pretending to be.
ProtectMac AntiVirus detects this variant as Trojan.OSX.Imuler
If the trojan is run, not only can it allow remote hackers access to your computer, it deletes the original file you downloaded and replaces it with a jpeg image of the icon, making it more difficult to realise something suspicious has has actually been downloaded.
The idea of disguising a file to appear as something else has been used by hackers for many years. On Mac OS X typically the file extension is not shown so the user is inclined to simply double-click the file, trusting that the icon reflects the true nature of the contents. Unfortunately, in this instance that is sadly not the case.
As a general rule you should only download files from trusted websites and don’t assume that because a file icon looks like a document or an image that it really is what it’s pretending to be.
ProtectMac AntiVirus detects this variant as Trojan.OSX.Imuler
Flash Player Trojan variant discovered
24/02/12 10:40
A variant of the backdoor Trojan that encourages users to install or update Adobe Flash Player has been circulating some of the more dubious websites.
If the backdoor Trojan runs on your computer it has the potential for remote hackers to control your Mac and retrieve sensitive information, such as usernames and passwords.
Whilst visiting a compromised website users are typically prompted to install or update their installation of Flash Player so as to enable them to view a particular topical or salacious video - users will never see these type of Adobe notifications under normal circumstances even if you have Flash Player already installed.
If the backdoor Trojan runs on your computer it has the potential for remote hackers to control your Mac and retrieve sensitive information, such as usernames and passwords.
Whilst visiting a compromised website users are typically prompted to install or update their installation of Flash Player so as to enable them to view a particular topical or salacious video - users will never see these type of Adobe notifications under normal circumstances even if you have Flash Player already installed.
Mac OS X Lion does not come with Adobe Flash Player by default, so don’t be tempted to click these alerts even if you do want to view a legitimate video. We always recommend that if you require any Adobe free products that you download them directly from the Adobe.
Obviously you should always be extremely careful when downloading any files from the internet and only download files from trusted sites.
Note, reports of this trojan also being installed automatically in the background have occurred on systems where the user has not installed the latest Apple security updates. We strongly recommend that you always enable Apple's Software Update feature in the System Preferences to Check for Updates daily and Download updates automatically.
Anyone who believes they may have come across a compromised website hosting this Trojan should send the details to support@protectmac.com
Mac OS X 10.7.3 update
01/02/12 14:58
Apple has released and update to Mac OS X Lion10.7. The release includes a sizeable security update to most technologies that fixes multiple vulnerabilities in the operating system. Full details of the security update can be found in the Apple knowledge-base article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222
The OS update includes Safari v5.1.3 as well as additional support for new languages and resolutions for compatibility and performance issues.
Further details of the new version of Mac OS X can be found on the Apple website.
The OS update includes Safari v5.1.3 as well as additional support for new languages and resolutions for compatibility and performance issues.
Further details of the new version of Mac OS X can be found on the Apple website.
Security Update 2012-001 Released
01/02/12 14:56
A security update for Mac OS X has been released for all Mac OS X 10.6.8, OS X Lion version 10.7 to 10.7.2 users. The publication coincides with the release of Mac OS X 10.7.3
The update fixes over 50 vulnerabilities in the Mac operating system, ranging from core technology amendments that resolve arbitrary code execution to multiple vulnerabilities in QuickTime and PHP. The update covers most technologies from Apache to X11.
Full details of the security update can be found on the Apple website http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222
The update fixes over 50 vulnerabilities in the Mac operating system, ranging from core technology amendments that resolve arbitrary code execution to multiple vulnerabilities in QuickTime and PHP. The update covers most technologies from Apache to X11.
Full details of the security update can be found on the Apple website http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222