Well, unless this is a different virus than the one I found while
searching the net, you won't get it if you stay off pornographic sites, at
least at this point.
A google search for mac virus video first told me that Apple unwittingly
shipped a few ipods with Windows viruses; the virus wouldn't affect the Mac
but would need to be removed and most virus software would take care of
it.
the second entry I found related the following information:
the heading was:
New Trojan tempts mac users with free porn
It explained that spam is sent to Mac user forums, luring them with the
promise of free pornographic porn. When they get there, as descried in the
earlier post, they are told they must download a missing video codec. Just
downloading the .dmg doesn't bring disaster, but entering your
administrator password does. It operates in the background until the user
visits banking, payment or auction websites; then it alerts the user's
DNS and diverts them to nearly identical websites. And you know the rest
of the story.
So:
(1) Don't look at spam mail; at least some ISP providers probably filter
this email out but if it comes through a forum rather than just regular
email you know it has to be spam; even if it comes through email from the
forum it certainly isn't on the topic for which you are on the forum--I
HOPE!!!
(2) Don't go to websites offering porn.
(3) If you still get past 1 and 2, don't download videos.
(40 If you really go past 1, 2, and 3, you are usually asked to
authenticate
when installing an application, but I don't think it usually asks for an
administrator's password.
(5) If you get past all these checkpoints, I'm sorry, but I can't
commiserate too much with you if you get a virus.
Admittedly the evil people who disseminate this virus (don't tell me they
aren't evil!) could come up with other scenarios which might tempt all of
us, so the warning to be ware of websites wanting you to download an
application to play video is certainly apropos. However, at least at this
point, it appears that the main threat is to people who respond to
obviously off-topic traps in or through Mac forums and go to websites
looking for a certain type of content.
--
Cheryl
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
