Fri Apr 13, 2012, 11:44 PM

New Mac OS X Backdoor Trojan Horse Discovered

http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/04/13/sabpab-new-mac-os-x-backdoor-trojan-horse-discovered/

More malware for the Mac OS X platform has been discovered, hot on the heels of the revelation that some 600,000 Macs had been infected in the Flashback attack.

And just like Flashback, the new Trojan doesn't require any user interaction to infect your Apple Mac.

The Sabpab Trojan horse exploits the same drive-by Java vulnerability used to create the Flashback botnet.

The newly discovered Sabpab malware is in many ways a basic backdoor Trojan horse. It connects to a control server using HTTP, receiving commands from remote hackers as to what it should do. The criminals behind the attack can grab screenshots from infected Macs, upload and download files, and execute commands remotely.

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10 replies	Author	Time	Post
New Mac OS X Backdoor Trojan Horse Discovered (Original post)	FredisDead	Apr 2012	OP
Read about this earlier, owners should just run software update.	NYC_SKP	Apr 2012	#1
are you familiar with Mac Keeper?	Voice for Peace	Apr 2012	#2
I've been happy with it -- a smart $29 investment.	rocktivity	Apr 2012	#3
I'm not, sorry, but among all my macs old and new I've never caught a virus.	NYC_SKP	Apr 2012	#4
thanks! didn't realize there was a mac forum here	Voice for Peace	Apr 2012	#6
Reasonably pleased with it, myself	jsmirman	Apr 2012	#9
At 80GB, my hard drive just barely accomodates my applications	rocktivity	Apr 2012	#10
Your post prompted me to check for software updates	Lydia Leftcoast	Apr 2012	#5
I'd installed it last week before I even heard of this problem.	Electric Monk	Apr 2012	#7
so the issue lies with "java"	Demonaut	Apr 2012	#8

Response to FredisDead (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 11:48 PM

NYC_SKP (48,901 posts)

1. Read about this earlier, owners should just run software update.

There are also steps they can take to eliminate any residual bad files.

No need for alarm, no need to install anti-virus programs, just do an update if you're running 10.6 or earlier.

I'm running Lion so I'm not even concerned.

But thank you for posting for anyone who may have missed this story.

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Response to NYC_SKP (Reply #1)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 11:54 PM

Voice for Peace (8,406 posts)

2. are you familiar with Mac Keeper?

I'd welcome some knowledgeable opinions.

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Response to Voice for Peace (Reply #2)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 11:57 PM

rocktivity (36,633 posts)

3. I've been happy with it -- a smart $29 investment.

Between my MacMini being a 2005 model and my running windows 7 on it via Parallels, its seemed like a good idea. But as pro-Mac as I am, I've never what I call an OS snob.

rocktivity

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Response to Voice for Peace (Reply #2)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 11:57 PM

NYC_SKP (48,901 posts)

4. I'm not, sorry, but among all my macs old and new I've never caught a virus.

Mac user forums are very helpful though, and you might want to post your questions out there or even in our DU computer forum for mac users.

Do you need the link?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1096

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Response to NYC_SKP (Reply #4)

Sat Apr 14, 2012, 12:41 AM

Voice for Peace (8,406 posts)

6. thanks! didn't realize there was a mac forum here

DU has almost everything.

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Response to Voice for Peace (Reply #2)

Sat Apr 14, 2012, 01:39 AM

jsmirman (4,188 posts)

9. Reasonably pleased with it, myself

been running it for a good ten months or so, I'm guessing.

It hangs at 75% on the "clean junk files" for me much of the time, and the fix they had me try didn't seem to solve the problem, but that's a small complaint.

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Response to jsmirman (Reply #9)

Sat Apr 14, 2012, 08:01 PM

rocktivity (36,633 posts)