kuluoz trojan?

[Ritchie200]

Ok all you computer experts, I need your advice AGAIN!


First the excuse, because there should not be one.....  My business does professional witness service for litigation.  I had a recent case reschedule due to the judge's vacation....  Yeah....  Anyway, I was running late this morning, noticed an email about a "scheduled court appearance" and clicked on the link.  (This is my MAC computer)  Boom, it's a .zip file and it downloads the MAC Boxer program (DOS system enabler) and a window pops open saying it can not run.  I get looking at the email closer and it is a bogus address and I noticed I had several from all over the country.  I did a search and found the .zip file may be a version of the kuluoz trojan.  The question I can not get answered via any website is, is it a problem for the MAC?  Everyone says, 1. Don't click on it! 2. If you click on it your are an IDIOT! 3. If you buy our anti-virus/malware program, we can take care of it for you. 4. Nothing can get to the MAC os.  Yes it can.  No it can't.  Yes it can.  No it can't.  Yes it can, ..........


So, 1. oops... 2. Yes, I resemble that remark. 3. Ain't gonna happen - unless my computer is destined to smoke. 4. Get me some popcorn....


Thank you in advance!
Jim

[Ed_Chambley]

I have had a fleet of Mac computers running at my company since computers became a necessity in business.  I have never had any experiences with any virus or malware.  Cannot say the same for out Windoze machines.  I have had similar emails on our machines and never had a problem.


I cannot say if you machine would have a problem, but I would not worry about it because if you do there is nothing you can do about it now.


Just kidding.  I would not worry about it and do not forward it to anyone.

[Ritchie200]

Ok Ed, when you get all those E Disfunction and import bride ads, they did not come from me! (they came from Willabee)


Thanks!
Jim

[Willabe]

Ok Ed, when you get all those E Disfunction and import bride ads, they did not come from me! (they came from Willabee)

Hey now!     

[EL34]

Cannot say the same for out Windoze machines.  I have had similar emails on our machines and never had a problem.

It's always interesting to me why people rag on windows machines
Ir run a bunch of them here. Some run 24/7

Never had a virus or trojan ever and that goes back to the 90's on windows 98

I think peoples computer habits are more to blame than the machine
Opening an email without taking a minute to look it over or surfing a web site in question

And a lack of a good spam filter
My ISP uses Red Condor and I never get suspect emails, they all get scanned and trapped before they get to me

[HotBluePlates]

4. Nothing can get to the MAC os.  Yes it can.  No it can't.  Yes it can.  No it can't.  Yes it can, ..........

At one time, this was true (nothing can get to a Mac). Today, it is not true.

A Mac is expensive enough it may be worth it to pay someone to remove the malware (whatever it is). Beware that a lot of online programs claiming to scan your machine for issues, or to do automated malware removal are "ransomware". They may not fix the issue, or the malware may be directing you (either overtly through a screen message, or indirectly by having a name that you do an internet search for & find "Fixes ____") to a place to pay to have the malware removed... by the people responsible for the malware spreading in the first place.

I have never had any experiences with any virus or malware.  Cannot say the same for out Windoze machines.  I have had similar emails on our machines and never had a problem.

Malware is made to attack a vulnerability in a a specific piece of software or hardware. For the longest, that meant attacking Windows machines, Windows OS or software, or websites/severs. That's because Microsoft hardware and code was well known because MS allowed 3rd parties to build it and develop applications to make Windows machines appear to have a wider range of capabilities and lower prices. And because Windows had more users, there is a larger pool of victims and money to be made by a cybercriminal in attacking Windows stuff.

Things is different now. Arguably, the iPod, iPad & iPhone exposed a much wider pool of customer to Apple, and made Macs more approachable. And the criminals want all the money they can snatch. iPhones, Android phones, Macs, ATMs... everything is a target and everything can be gotten.

[DummyLoad]

jim, kuluoz it's a windows trojan. you're fine unless you're running windows virtual machine. delete the email contents and the unzipped contents. download & run either sophos or comodo - they're free avp for mac osX.


--pete

[Ed_Chambley]

Cannot say the same for out Windoze machines.  I have had similar emails on our machines and never had a problem.

It's always interesting to me why people rag on windows machines
Ir run a bunch of them here. Some run 24/7

Never had a virus or trojan ever and that goes back to the 90's on windows 98

I think peoples computer habits are more to blame than the machine
Opening an email without taking a minute to look it over or surfing a web site in question

And a lack of a good spam filter
My ISP uses Red Condor and I never get suspect emails, they all get scanned and trapped before they get to me

Obviously you have never had to maintain both in the same environment.  I know this because of your comments.  I can use either with no problem.  I can tell you by maintenance record which machines take more man hours and additional software to run on our networks.


Had you ever maintained a networks of Macs as well a Windoze machines in comparison your comments on comparing the machines would have validity.  Currently you unilateral comments support Windoze with underlying leanings towards them being best.


That is why people rag on Windoze machines.

[Ed_Chambley]

4. Nothing can get to the MAC os.  Yes it can.  No it can't.  Yes it can.  No it can't.  Yes it can, ..........

At one time, this was true (nothing can get to a Mac). Today, it is not true.

A Mac is expensive enough it may be worth it to pay someone to remove the malware (whatever it is). Beware that a lot of online programs claiming to scan your machine for issues, or to do automated malware removal are "ransomware". They may not fix the issue, or the malware may be directing you (either overtly through a screen message, or indirectly by having a name that you do an internet search for & find "Fixes ____") to a place to pay to have the malware removed... by the people responsible for the malware spreading in the first place.

I have never had any experiences with any virus or malware.  Cannot say the same for out Windoze machines.  I have had similar emails on our machines and never had a problem.

Malware is made to attack a vulnerability in a a specific piece of software or hardware. For the longest, that meant attacking Windows machines, Windows OS or software, or websites/severs. That's because Microsoft hardware and code was well known because MS allowed 3rd parties to build it and develop applications to make Windows machines appear to have a wider range of capabilities and lower prices. And because Windows had more users, there is a larger pool of victims and money to be made by a cybercriminal in attacking Windows stuff.

Things is different now. Arguably, the iPod, iPad & iPhone exposed a much wider pool of customer to Apple, and made Macs more approachable. And the criminals want all the money they can snatch. iPhones, Android phones, Macs, ATMs... everything is a target and everything can be gotten.

I assume since I know you that you have documented evidence that cyber criminals which have overlooked targeting the MAC OS because of profit motive and not the difficulty of creating virus and malware to effectively attack the operating system.


The only time a virus was known on Macintosh, it was considered a worm.  The makers of the SAMS software started the scare during the time of the Mac Clone.  Supposedly they were transferred through 88mg Syquest disks.  Not the 44mg, but only the 88mg.


Nortons has been behind supporting a mac virus awareness for some time.  All I ask is for someone to send me one.  I have never seen one and I would like to.  I have never seen malware on a Mac either.  I am currently at my office and we have 17 Macintosh of various ages and have had more at times.  We have had Macs since they became necessities in graphic arts in 1987.  That is a long time with no virus protection, not to mention all the others in service I have never seen or heard of a confirmed virus.


I am sure someone will figure out something to mess with them one of these days.  All I can say is I have never seen one or do I know of any confirmed ones causing any problems.  I have heard the same reasoning.  Apple is such a small percentage of the market, cyber criminals will not waste their time on trojan horse virus to collect keystrokes of victims in an effort to get account numbers and credit card information.


Also, I have heard of people switching from Windows machines to Mac, but I do not know anyone who has done the reverse.  I am sure there are some who have, but sales figures clearly show the trend.


I just purchased a new Windows 8.1 machine for me, but I bought a Mac notebook and Ipad for my wife.  I just don't want to work on her computers or have to keep up with a Virus Subscription for her.


This is my experience and not opinion.

[sluckey]

your comments on comparing the machines would have validity.  Currently you unilateral comments support Windoze with underlying leanings towards them being best.

Huh? What comments? Doug never made any comparison between OSs. He simply stated his opinion about peoples' habits and lack of knowledge.

[Ed_Chambley]

your comments on comparing the machines would have validity.  Currently you unilateral comments support Windoze with underlying leanings towards them being best.

Huh? What comments? Doug never made any comparison between OSs. He simply stated his opinion about peoples' habits and lack of knowledge.

He pulled a quote from me when doing it.  I guess I missed he was not using my comment to make his point.  Right on!  Thank you sir, I'll have another.

[Ed_Chambley]

I have windoze machines which run 24/7 as well.  So what.  Has nothing to do with what Jim was asking.


My the Kool-Aid is good.

[Ed_Chambley]

And another thing I wanted to say while I am venting.  I am a Damn Tech, and don't you forget it.


I am a Amp Tech, an Apple Tech and a Windoze Tech.  Look at me, Look at me.




Got ya, didn't I.

[Ritchie200]

Have you got any advanced credentials to support that declaration?  I will not take advice from anyone unless they have been through MAJOR -
Super
High
Intensity
Training


I know I have....many times....


Thank you guys!
Jim

[sluckey]

Haha! Hadn't thought about that for quite a few years now. I'm gonna post the entire letter for the benefit of those who have not had the training. It was a requirement for all FAA personnel.
========================

Special High Intensity Training

In order to assure the highest levels of quality work and productivity from employees, it will be our policy to keep all employees well trained through our program of Special High Intensity Training (SHIT). We are trying to give employees more SHIT than anyone else.

If you feel that you do not receive your share of SHIT on the job, please see your manager. You will be immediately placed at the top of the SHIT list, and our managers are especially skilled at seeing that you get all the SHIT you can handle.

Employees who don't take their SHIT will be placed in Departmental Employee Evaluation Programs (DEEP SHIT).

Those who fail to take DEEP SHIT seriously will have to go to Employee Attitude Training (EAT SHIT). Since our managers took SHIT before they were promoted, they don't have to do SHIT anymore, and are all full of SHIT already.

If you are full of SHIT, you may be interested in a job training others. We can add your name to our Basic Understanding Lecture List (BULL SHIT). Those who are full of BULL SHIT will get the SHIT jobs, and can apply for promotion to Director of Intensity Programming (DIP SHIT).

If you have further questions, please direct them to our Head Of Training, Special High Intensity Training (HOT SHIT).

Thank you,

Boss In General,
Special High Intensity Training,
(BIG SHIT)

[Ritchie200]

Haha!  Yeah, that's the one!  I could not remember the details.  I used to work at a company that was doing the managerial flavor of the month and wondering why nothing worked, so they hired some idiotic consulting firm.  It was a real life Dilbert cartoon.  Someone ran off like 600 copies of that letter and posted them all over the plant and offices - too funny!  So they fired the consultants and finally listened to the people in the trenches - novel concept.....

Jim

[Ed_Chambley]

I have seen the SHIT letter before, but have forgotten it.  It is as funny as SHIT.  When I was young before being in the Military, I was a Diesel Mechanic and they had these things posted all over the shop.  We even had names for each other.  Of course, I was DUMB SHIT, but I cannot remember what they said DUMB stood for.  I got the handle from tacking a technical manual and setting it in top of an engine and telling the guy who was reading it to use that the book would fix it.  He did not need me.


Long story short, I was just adjusting Top Stop injectors which is almost as difficult as replacing a tube.  Had a little to do with having a few at lunch too.  Like I said, it was long ago and back them most of us kept a bottle in our work areas.  Nothing strange for the times.


Like I said tho about Apple.  I have never seen a virus and I have no degree to prove there is not any, just experience.  That was my point.  I need to put some security in place and will soon, but right now the only thing between my Apple servers and the WAN is a router.


Now my windoze servers cannot operate that way for even a few seconds.  We have a rule here at the office.  I have windows machines designed for work which do not have any connection to the Internet or email.  One is actually a windows 2000 machine.  Where I have users that need to have internet communications, they are on a separate static IP and have lots of security in-place.  These are Windows machines.  As my employees get more accustomed to the Apple interface, I have replaced those workstations will apple and will soon have an apple only network.  Murphys law says as soon as I achieve this goal, virus attacking the Appls OS will be Rampant.


I will say I have never had a problem with virus or malware on any machine which I do not allow to have WAN access.  Imagine that.


It is the user that is the problem.  I agree, but currently it is easier to give someone a MAC than it is to keep them off Porno sites.  That is what I will do until someone shows me a MAC virus.


Sorry if I ruffled any feathers.  That is a lie.


Remember, Jim started this thread.  It is under "other topics."  That means we are supposed to throw dirt clods, doesn't it.

[EL34]

It is the user that is the problem.  I agree,

That's all I was saying
Nothing against anyone here

[Ed_Chambley]

It is the user that is the problem.  I agree,

That's all I was saying
Nothing against anyone here

None taken, I was just stirring the pot and having some fun.  Just wait, my surgery is tomorrow and I will be on some powerful meds.  No telling what I might do.  I may get BANNED!  It has been put off, but tomorrow they are taking out an old filter cap in my neck and replacing it with a new one.  I hope it is not a surplus item.


I shouldn't make fun, but I am really quite nervous to tell you the truth.  I do not intend to offend, but sometimes I do anyway.  I do know how to apologize when I go too far.

[Ritchie200]

It is the user that is the problem.  I agree, but currently it is easier to give someone a MAC than it is to keep them off Porno sites.

Oh man.....all these rules that are IMPOSSIBLE to follow.... 


Jim

[Ritchie200]

Ed, you take care and get well quick!  I'm sure everything will be fine, they do a gazillion of those hose reams a day!  Keep us updated - AFTER your meds wear off!


Jim

[Voxbox]

Ed, you crack me up!
For some reason I read your posts with a Russian accent in my head........
Am I close?
 
Cheers VB

[Ed_Chambley]

Ed, you crack me up!
For some reason I read your posts with a Russian accent in my head........
Am I close?
 
Cheers VB

No, try Montgomery Alabama.  It is even funnier.

[Ritchie200]

I take it yaaaaawwwwlllll is doing good?

Jim

[Ed_Chambley]

I take it yaaaaawwwwlllll is doing good?

Jim

Painful, but I am doing fine.  Thanks for asking. Dr says about a week for the pain to begin decreasing.

[Willabe]

Very glad to here your operation went well and your doing fine.


              Brad