Apple, Mac Computers Hit By Hackers

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Attention Apple users, the reality distortion field has been breached. I say again, the reality distortion field has been breached.

Apple Inc was recently attacked by hackers who infected the Macintosh computers of some employees, the company said on Tuesday in an unprecedented disclosure that described the widest known cyber attacks against Apple-made computers to date.
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So the exploit affected something that:

1) Is cross-platform
2) is disabled by default
3) warns you when you enable it that it could introduce security issues

Why that Apple hate?
 
TeeJayHoward said:
So the exploit affected something that:

1) Is cross-platform
2) is disabled by default
3) warns you when you enable it that it could introduce security issues

Why that Apple hate?
Click to expand...

It was malware specific to the Mac OS, and a website their own developers use frequently?
 
Maplehamwich said:
Because Apple and Apple users like to claim that their products do not get malicious attacks. Which is plainly false.

Also, as the article says, the attack was aimed at Apple Macintosh computers.
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But it wasn't a flaw in the Apple operating system, OSX. It was a flaw in something users had to install and turn on themselves. Java is all about 'write once, and should work everywhere' so it's not really surprising that 'find an exploit, and it works everywhere' happens to be true in this case.
 
I heard their computers were flashing images of Steve Jobs in and out and he was yelling he was suing them bastards for using his shit!
 
Maplehamwich said:
Because Apple and Apple users like to claim that their products do not get malicious attacks. Which is plainly false.

Also, as the article says, the attack was aimed at Apple Macintosh computers.
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Ok, reality check.

What's the score, Mac vs. PC ? C'mon now. I know it's a big number, but you can do it :)
 
It's a Java exploit, and just so happens to affect Macs. The problem is with Java, not necessarily OS X.
 
Dark Shade said:
It's a Java exploit, and just so happens to affect Macs. The problem is with Java, not necessarily OS X.
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Doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, and the vulnerability of the Mac OS/iOS will become more and more apparent as market share increases. It just hasn't been lucrative for hackers to attack Apple OSes in the past. That has started to change and more and more security issues with OS X/iOS pop up every day.
 
Kryptorchid said:
Doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, and the vulnerability of the Mac OS/iOS will become more and more apparent as market share increases. It just hasn't been lucrative for hackers to attack Apple OSes in the past. That has started to change and more and more security issues with OS X/iOS pop up every day.
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This is true, I'm just pointing out the fact that as soon as there's an iota of negative press that mentions Apple, [H] and other sites are already dive bombing the article like flies to feces.

I'm certain the next time it'll be a flash-based exploit that only affects Mac OS X 10.1.3 on MDD dual-processor Macintosh models that were manufactured between 3:31PM and 4:14PM on June the 8th that contained a specific video card memory chip manufactured in Malaysia that causes the color blue to turn blue-green in specific Youtube videos that were filmed with a specific camcorder and it will be hailed as the downfall of Apple products for all time, finally giving credence to the fact that Macs aren't invulnerable.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Obviously this is a PR stunt by Microsoft, everyone knows Macs can't get viruses.
 
about a year back I recall reading that 80% of all intrusions on windows OS was thru adobe reader and adobe flash, and most of the remaining thru Java. the OS itself is actually now considered one of the most secure.

The last 6 to 8 months I've seen a rise in java targeted malware at work, and adobe is at least has a better patching process now where the app is self updating (option). Java patching still sucks ass since it always comes with malware (ASK toolbar anyone?) included unless you uncheck the box.

uninstall java, adobe flash, adobe reader, your pc will be more secure than a mac.

But yeah, this was a targeted attack on the mac os, via java. so if you own one you better patch up java or uninstall it.
 
Pretty much, I'd say Java is responsible for 90-95% of current remote access attacks on Windows systems. The difference is you can remove it or patch it on your own. On OSX you're reliant on Apple to deliver a patch.
 
Windows 8 is on track to ensure that macs soon become the biggest target for viruses.
 
darkpaw said:
Pretty much, I'd say Java is responsible for 90-95% of current remote access attacks on Windows systems. The difference is you can remove it or patch it on your own. On OSX you're reliant on Apple to deliver a patch.
Click to expand...

You can remove or disable Java and/or functionality on Mac OS X as well.
 
darkpaw said:
Pretty much, I'd say Java is responsible for 90-95% of current remote access attacks on Windows systems. The difference is you can remove it or patch it on your own. On OSX you're reliant on Apple to deliver a patch.
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Apple was working on addressing this coupling a while ago. I'm not certain what came of it.
 
timta2 said:
There is still to this day, not one Mac OS X Virus.

A trojan or vulnerability in a plug-in is not a virus.
Click to expand...

A rose by any other name...

Malware is malware. By being able to say it's not a virus is the difference between hitting your hand or your foot with a hammer. In the end, it still hurts.

There aren't any new viruses for Windows 7 and 8 either. You know why? No profit in it.

Malware targets systems to turn them into bots. Viruses typically disable/crash computers instead. To make the distinction between the virus and a trojan is to be a blind fool.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2402641,00.asp

Macs are targeted and "out of the box" can be infected.

Of course, if you want to go one step further... keep in mind, jailbreak methods for iOS rely on exploits since the system, by default, is designed to not be able to have anything other than regular user privileges. (Android, and Linux by extension through the kernel, explicitly supports superuser) This makes iOS the de-facto most exploited mobile OS in use.

But what do the facts matter when you can just hold onto that one little parroted nugget of pedantry... that there are no Mac OSX Viruses? Have fun pretending you're safe.
 
Last month, Apple remotely blocked Java 7 browser plugins several times without explanation:

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/31/apple-once-again-blocks-java-7-web-plug-in/

Reporters then found it disturbing that Apple considered a threat to be serious enough to remotely disable software on their customer's computers. Others found it disturbing that Apple would remotely disable software on their customer's computers at all.

In retrospect, it would now appear that they were blocking the attacks by Unit 61398 of the People's Liberation Army of China:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162...cking-attacks-on-u.s-cybersecurity-firm-says/

DeathPrincess said:
Don't worry a security patch shall be available in the next 6-12 months!
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I downloaded the security patch today, and as noted above, it's clear Apple has been doing what it can to counter the problem caused by someone else's code for some time now. The security patch is for Java. Apple has made it pretty clear for quite some time now that it's not desirable software, starting by not including it on Mac OS X 10.7. What more do you want Apple to do here?

I would run without Java if I could, but I have an app that I have to use that won't run without it. It's really easy to say not to have it installed on any of your machines, and that's great if you don't actually need it... until you do need it for things that are not optional to your life.
 
timta2 said:
There is still to this day, not one Mac OS X Virus.

A trojan or vulnerability in a plug-in is not a virus.
Click to expand...

You are stupid. Does it matter if:

A.) Your Mac never crashes due to a virus so you have no antivirus/anti malware software installed.
-or-
B.) Your Mac never gets a virus, but someone just stole all the money from your check account by using security flaw to allow key logging your Mac.
 
I thought the fucking apple hipsters keep saying they do not have virus or hackers?


Oh wait that was just because nobody has apple crap or care what apple hipster stores on it that is why no hacker bothered with the work until this guy who had nothing better to do.
 
darkpaw said:
Pretty much, I'd say Java is responsible for 90-95% of current remote access attacks on Windows systems. The difference is you can remove it or patch it on your own. On OSX you're reliant on Apple to deliver a patch.
Click to expand...

Agreed. OSX has NEVER been secure, and now that its hovering around 10% share, its starting to attract a LOT more attention.
 
evilsofa said:
Last month, Apple remotely blocked Java 7 browser plugins several times without explanation:

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/31/apple-once-again-blocks-java-7-web-plug-in/

Reporters then found it disturbing that Apple considered a threat to be serious enough to remotely disable software on their customer's computers. Others found it disturbing that Apple would remotely disable software on their customer's computers at all.

In retrospect, it would now appear that they were blocking the attacks by Unit 61398 of the People's Liberation Army of China:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162...cking-attacks-on-u.s-cybersecurity-firm-says/



I downloaded the security patch today, and as noted above, it's clear Apple has been doing what it can to counter the problem caused by someone else's code for some time now. The security patch is for Java. Apple has made it pretty clear for quite some time now that it's not desirable software, starting by not including it on Mac OS X 10.7. What more do you want Apple to do here?

I would run without Java if I could, but I have an app that I have to use that won't run without it. It's really easy to say not to have it installed on any of your machines, and that's great if you don't actually need it... until you do need it for things that are not optional to your life.
Click to expand...

Uh huh. So why did computers at Apple's HQ get infected then?
 
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