Antivirus Faceoff: A Non-Alarmist’s Guide to Mac Malware Protection [Lifehacker Faceoff]

The vast majority of Mac users do absolutely nothing to prevent malware or viruses from infecting their systems, and very few of them have experienced anything that would make them think twice about it. The fact is, however, that Mac malware does exist, and there are tools available to ensure that your Mac is as safe as possible from emerging threats. More

Beware MAC Defender: OSX malware disguised as anti-virus software

mac-defender-main-screen.jpg

A new piece of malware is spreading, notable because it targets computers running Mac OS X, rather than Windows. Reports of the trojan “MAC Defender” (aka Mac Protector, aka Mac Security) first surfaced on May 2, but the malware has since morphed and proliferated.

The basics: it spreads as search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning, using popular search terms for prominent search engine results.

More: PC World, MacWorld, Ars Technica, Fortune, and a full description updated today at SecureMac.com.

And if you are a Mac user, now is as good a time as any to consider installing *actual* anti-virus and malware scan apps. Intego’s VirusBarrier, Sophos and MacScan are several with free demo versions.

Apparently, “osama bin laden” is one of the popular search terms used to deploy. I just encountered a MAC Defender come-on page in Safari after clicking on a poisoned msnbc.com link via Twitter, hence the inspiration for this blog post. Pretty sure one of the remnant ads on msnbc.com served it. The serving IP is below, load it at your own risk, I paste it for informational purposes only.

http://178.17.162.163/7d81dd5ca78c961d206fb04f2f1709c2fbc6f0515ca0adda


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Beware MAC Defender: OSX malware disguised as anti-virus software

Why Skype? Microsoft confirms $8.5 billion purchase, clarifies nothing



When the Wall Street Journal reported last night that Microsoft was going to buy Skype, the response was puzzlement. Though Skype has some value, the estimated $7 billion-8 billion valuation was unfathomable. Microsoft has now confirmed the purchase and held a press conference to announce the takeover. The morning after the night before, is it making any more sense?

From what little the company has said, not really. Microsoft will buy Skype for $8.5 billion in cash. The companies have entered into a definitive agreement, and the deal has received approval from both boards of directors; pending regulatory approval, it will close by the end of the year. Skype will be run as a new business division within Microsoft, with Skype CEO Tony Bates taking a new role as president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Speaking at the press conference, Ballmer said that Microsoft originally planned a partnership before deciding to buy the company outright.

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Why Skype? Microsoft confirms $8.5 billion purchase, clarifies nothing

Report: The Entire Prius Line To Be Plug-In Hybrids Starting With The 2014 Model Year


Remember that plug-in Prius we drove for a bit? Yeah, Toyota is bringing that technology to more models. The Prius has long been the popular hybrid vehicle but cars like the Volt and Leaf are stealing a good deal of the public’s love thanks to their plug-in ability. It seems Toyota is looking to recapture some of its lost karma by shifting the entire Prius line to plug-in hybrids by the 2014 model year.

This comes by way of a short and sweet Reuters report that also states the plug-in feature will come standard and the models should sell at the current Prius’s rate. The big change comes as the automaker switches from NiMH to Li-ion batteries.

The Prius brand is set to explode in the coming years. Toyota previously detailed plans to introduce new models including the Prius v, which features a hatch and 50% more interior room than the current model.

A plug-in Prius isn’t really anything new. We had a chance to tool around town in a prototype for a week and found the experence as wonderful as it seems. The fuel economy was fantastic and the switch between the electric motor and gas engine seamless. The product edition should be refinded even more although the prototype was nearly perfect.

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Report: The Entire Prius Line To Be Plug-In Hybrids Starting With The 2014 Model Year