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Malicious Mac "Trojan Horse" App Discovered

Program may be the first in a wave of OS X targeted malware

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2007 4:23 PM CDT

(Newser) – A rare "Trojan horse" program designed to fleece Mac users has been discovered, the Wall Street Journal reports. Luring users with spam directing to porn sites, the Trojan poses as a missing video codec necessary for the naughty vids. Installation of the "codec" requires an administrator login, which gives the Trojan full access to the machine.

Once empowered, the Trojan waits until the user visits auction or banking websites, nabbing those passwords for identity theft. Macs have enjoyed a "malware-free" reputation for a long time, one which may be ending. "The bad guys are taking Macs seriously now," noted a malware analyst. The Trojan, however, still requires duping users -- PC viruses require no such mistake to wreak their havoc.

A customer uses an Apple MacBook with an advertisement for Leopard at an Apple store in Palo Alto, Calif., Friday, Oct. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
A customer uses an Apple MacBook with an advertisement for Leopard at an Apple store in Palo Alto, Calif., Friday, Oct. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)   (Associated Press)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs talks with customers after the launch of the new Apple iPhone in Palo Alto, Calif., Friday evening, June 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs talks with customers after the launch of the new Apple iPhone in Palo Alto, Calif., Friday evening, June 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)   (Associated Press)
As the popularity of Apple products rises, the bad guys are taking Macs seriously now, writes one commentator.
As the popularity of Apple products rises, "the bad guys are taking Macs seriously now," writes one commentator.   (Shutterstock.com)
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