While my Wonder Woman, Son&Heir and I are using the nearest available public WiFi (“Family Night” at the Library! *heh*), I’m taking time to post some schadenfreude-laden “nanny-nanny-boo-boo” in the MacWarz! category:
Waiting on the class action lawsuit based on the “Mac Defender” malware and its more robust and sneaky successor(s?) Why? Because Apple misled naive users. They said, specifically, that no user intervention is necessary to protect users from malware.
From http://www.apple.com/why-mac/better-os/
Safeguard your data. By doing nothing.
With virtually no effort on your part, Mac OS X defends against viruses and other malicious applications, or malware. For example, it thwarts hackers through a technique called “sandboxing” — restricting what actions programs can perform on your Mac, what files they can access, and what other programs they can launch. Other automatic security features include Library Randomization, which prevents malicious commands from finding their targets, and Execute Disable, which protects the memory in your Mac from attacks.
Download with peace of mind.Innocent-looking files downloaded over the Internet may contain dangerous malware in disguise. That’s why files you download using Safari, Mail, and iChat are screened to determine if they contain applications. If they do, Mac OS X alerts you, then warns you the first time you open one.
Stay up to date, automatically.
When a potential security threat arises, Apple responds quickly by providing software updates and security enhancements you can download automatically and install with a click. So you’re not tasked with tracking down updates yourself and installing all of them one by one.
Protect what’s important.Mac OS X makes it easy to stay safe online, whether you’re checking your bank account, sending confidential email, or sharing files with friends and coworkers. Features such as Password Assistant help you lock out identity thieves who are after personal data, while built-in encryption technologies protect your private information and communications. Safari also uses antiphishing technology to protect you from fraudulent websites. If you visit a suspicious site, Safari disables the page and displays an alert warning you about its suspect nature.
Of course, none of this prevented Mac users by the droves from installing the “Mac Defender” malware, and the new procedures reluctantly posted by Apple to remove it and prevent its installation (last week Apple was simply telling AppleCare users who called, “Screw You”) WILL NOT WORK with the new version of the malware that has already been seen in the wild. Neither will all the supposed security features touted above. Go to the ZDNet article linked above for more.