http://www.securemac.com/

Free tool to remove the iWorkServices Trojan Horse at above website.

Little snitch would catch this Trojan and stop it working also.



From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeff @ SLYN 
Systems
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 9:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MacGroup] Mac Trojan Targets Pirated Apple iWorks

Mac Trojan Targets Pirated Apple iWorks

By Stefanie Hoffman, ChannelWeb
6:30 PM EST Thu. Jan. 22, 2009
Pirated versions of Apple 
(NSDQ:AAPL<http://www.crn.com/tools/quotes/index.jhtml?Page=QUOTE&Ticker=AAPL>)'s
 iWork '09 are the latest vehicle for a malicious 
Trojan<http://www.crn.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=Trojan&x=&y=> that 
is being used by hackers to access user information on Mac 
OS<http://www.crn.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=OS&x=&y=> X platforms.

The Mac-only Trojan, known as OSX.Trojan.iServices.A, is circulating through 
copies of Apple's productivity suite iWork '09 found on 
BitTorrent<http://www.crn.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=BitTorrent&x=&y=>
 trackers and other sites that contain links to illegal software.

An advisory was circulated by Mac security vendor Intego on Wednesday, warning 
Mac users of the iWork malware.

While the iWork '09 program is completely functional, the installer contains an 
additional package called iWorkServices.pkg, launched when the iWork '09 
software<http://www.crn.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=software&x=&y=> 
is installed. The Trojan installer is downloaded as soon as the user requests 
an administrator password and begins installation of iWork. However, older 
versions of Mac OS X, such as 10.5.1 and earlier, won't require a password.

The malicious software is installed as a startup item where it has 
read-write-execute permission. It then connects to a remote 
server<http://www.crn.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=server&x=&y=> via 
the Web, alerting the attacker that the Trojan is actively targeting users' 
Macs. The attackers will then be able to connect to the affected computers in 
order to steal or view sensitive and financial information, or obtain remote 
access<http://www.crn.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=remote%20access&x=&y=>
 to user accounts. The Trojan may be used to 
download<http://www.crn.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=download&x=&y=> 
additional malicious code onto infected Macs and used for further criminal 
activity.

Apple released its latest version of iWork at the 2009 Macworld Conference & 
Expo, where it showcased changes to its word processor and spreadsheet 
applications.

In the Intego advisory, security experts advise users not to download iWork '09 
installers from sites that promote pirated software, and recommends that users 
also avoid installing software from other questionable sources or suspicious 
Web sites.

"The risk of infection is serious, and users may face extremely serious 
consequences if their Macs are accessible to malicious users," Intego's 
advisory warned.

While the exact number of infected users is not yet known, Intego estimates 
that affected Mac users exceed 20,000.

Malware specific to the Mac is still a relative rarity, but not entirely 
uncommon, security experts say. Last year, coinciding with the first day of the 
MacWorld Conference & Expo, a rogue application known as MacSweeper, which 
spread only on Mac computers, solicited users to download and pay for a bogus 
cleanup program. However, users, mostly consumers, soon found out that the 
cleaning software failed to deliver on its promise to rid their systems of 
malware<http://www.crn.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=malware&x=&y=> 
once they paid for it.

Security experts say that they expect to see more malware specifically 
targeting the Mac.

Jeff Slyn, Owner
SLYN Systems & Peripherals
(502) 426-5469
a new & improved http://www.SLYNsystems.com in process
serving Kentuckiana clients 7 days a week since 1985!
_______________________________________________
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be January 27 at MacAuthority, 128 Breckinridge Lane. 
Posting address: [email protected]
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