{"id":430584,"date":"2011-05-26T10:37:36","date_gmt":"2011-05-26T10:37:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/05\/26\/apple-fights-fake-security-makers\/"},"modified":"2011-05-26T10:37:36","modified_gmt":"2011-05-26T10:37:36","slug":"apple-fights-fake-security-makers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/26\/apple-fights-fake-security-makers\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple fights fake security makers"},"content":{"rendered":"

26 May 2011<\/span> Last updated at<\/span> 06:37 ET<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Apple is releasing a security update that removes fake security software that has caught out thousands of Mac users.<\/p>\n

Once installed, the fake MacDefender, MacProtector and MacSecurity programs pretend to scan a machine and then ask for cash to fix non-existent problems.<\/p>\n

The gang behind the programs used search sites to help catch people out.<\/p>\n

The clean-up plan starts as the creators of the fake programs release a version harder to avoid.<\/p>\n

Fake fix<\/span><\/p>\n

In a message posted to its support forums<\/a>, Apple has warned users about the fake security software, also known as scareware.<\/p>\n

It said a phishing scam had targeted Mac users by redirecting them to sites that warned them that their machine was infected with viruses.<\/p>\n

Apple said it would release an OS X update soon to find and remove MacDefender and its variants. The message also gave advice about how to remove the software if they had already fallen victim.<\/p>\n

MacDefender and its variants are thought to have caught some people out because the default security settings on the Safari browser allow it to download and queue itself for installation.<\/p>\n

Those who install it can end up paying more than $70 (\u00a343) to remove the non-existent viruses the scareware claims to have found.<\/p>\n

As Apple was releasing its fix for Mac Defender, the gang behind it had started distributing a new version.<\/p>\n

Like older versions, the new one – called Mac Guard – is being spread by tying it to popular phrases typed into search engines.<\/p>\n

Mac Guard also gets round one of the factors that limited the spread of Mac Defender as it no longer needs a user’s permission to be installed.<\/p>\n

Security firm Intego issued a warning about the variant<\/a> and said those who use the Safari browser should disable a setting that lets “safe” files be installed automatically.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

Read More:
\nApple fights fake security makers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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