Apple is currently preparing an update to Mac OS X 10.6 that will detect and remove the MACDefender malware, and prevent users from installing it again should they be faced with its tempting trap to remove a nonexistent threat. We wrote about this in past Tech Tails, on our blog, and in our other newsletters. This is certainly a welcome move on Apple’s part, but it worries me that such an obviously fraudulent piece of software is being downloaded seemingly by thousands and thousands of users.
About half, or even more, of the calls to our tech support call center are from customers seeking assistance in removing the software. About half of those customers gave their credit card number to the software and had to call their bank to cancel their cards.
Though OS X remains secure, it is vulnerable to users who don’t think their decisions through quite thoroughly enough. Odds are we will see similar attacks in the future, so it’d be a good idea to get into the habit of Googling the name of any product offered in a pop up window or advertisement on a web page. It only take a moment, and can give you reasonable peace of mind that you are purchasing not only a legitimate, but a useful product that performs as advertised.
While you will want to install 10.6.8 when it’s released through Software Update, both for protection against this malware and for new features, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to use common sense when downloading software and navigating web sites.