Tech Mac users: do not download and install transmission (1 Viewer)

[Denny Crane]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-ransomware-idUSKCN0W80VX

The transmission program is a popular torrent program for the mac. People who have downloaded it recently have had their macs taken over by a ransom virus.

For starters, using torrents is mostly done to steal software or videos. Any of those may also have a virus attached. In fact, most probably do, though designed to attack Windoze machines. As mac is becoming more popular, it only makes sense that hackers' attention is drawn to osx.

Secondly, any software you download and install can infect your system. Possible, but not likely via the App Store, much more likely for software designed, in part, to break the law. And then for the software you download via torrent. There's nobody watching those things and providing warnings until it's too late.

There are virus scanners for osx, but for the most part, they are not needed. If you browse questionable sites, they might certainly be worth it.

 

[speeds]

If you are on PC, don't use uTorrent anymore, either, unless you like your system being used to mine bitcoins.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

In fact, most probably do, though designed to attack Windoze machines.

Software there is a good possibility, video no.

It also depends on where you are getting your downloads from. There are some very private sites on the internets where everything is virus free.

If you are just dying to download things from a large site like Pirate Bay then only download things from people who have uploaded 1000s files. If a person has only uploaded a few items in the past couple of days those are the ones with the greatest chance to contain viruses or malware. Read the comments from other people who have downloaded the software or video. If it contains a virus people will post in the comment section.

 

[Denny Crane]

Software there is a good possibility, video no.

It also depends on where you are getting your downloads from. There are some very private sites on the internets where everything is virus free.

If you are just dying to download things from a large site like Pirate Bay then only download things from people who have uploaded 1000s files. If a person has only uploaded a few items in the past couple of days those are the ones with the greatest chance to contain viruses or malware. Read the comments from other people who have downloaded the software or video. If it contains a virus people will post in the comment section.

If you follow the dog's advice, go to him to fix your computer when it gets hacked.

 

[Natebishop3]

I haven't torrented in a long time. With Netflix and Amazon Prime, I rarely find myself looking elsewhere.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I wondered why they updated the software mysteriously after two full years. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[MarAzul]

There are virus scanners for osx, but for the most part, they are not needed

I quit using virus scanners like AVG and the like. Just not necessary with a little caution. I do find that SpyBot protects me for the occasional screw up if I run with it in Paranoid mode.
It asks you for permission to allow a culprit update your registry. So you can usually throw the rascal out before they get installed. The kind that don't update the registry are easy
to find and purge. I don't use Apple though, too much stuff it will not run that I need.

 

[HailBlazers]

what if you already have it installed? @Denny Crane

 

[Denny Crane]

what if you already have it installed? @Denny Crane

It's only a new version they came out with a day or two ago. They've since come out with a virus free version.

I don't trust it, no way, no how. Never did.