Messages In This Digest (21 Messages)
- 1a.
- Re: How to tell which apps use Java? From: Michael P. Stupinski
- 1b.
- Re: How to tell which apps use Java? From: Dane Reugger
- 1c.
- Re: How to tell which apps use Java? From: paul smith
- 1d.
- Re: How to tell which apps use Java? From: Dane Reugger
- 1e.
- Re: How to tell which apps use Java? From: N.A. Nada
- 1f.
- Re: How to tell which apps use Java? From: John Masters
- 1g.
- Re: How to tell which apps use Java? From: N.A. Nada
- 2a.
- Re: Monitor for system 9.1 From: Eric
- 2b.
- Re: Monitor for system 9.1 From: Denver Dan
- 3a.
- Re: How access printer from Terminal From: Otto Nikolaus
- 3b.
- Re: How access printer from Terminal From: OldTechie
- 4a.
- Re: Resetting startup disk From: Andrew Buc
- 4b.
- Re: Resetting startup disk From: Jim Saklad
- 5a.
- Deliverance DVD/Handbrake From: HAL9000
- 5b.
- Re: Deliverance DVD/Handbrake From: HAL9000
- 6a.
- HEY From: Nanci Harvey
- 6b.
- Re: HEY From: Earle Jones
- 6c.
- Re: HEY From: Earle Jones
- 6d.
- Re: HEY From: paul smith
- 7a.
- Flashback Followup From: Randy B. Singer
- 7b.
- Re: Flashback Followup From: Vixpix
Messages
- 1a.
-
Re: How to tell which apps use Java?
Posted by: "Michael P. Stupinski" mpstupinski@snet.net mstupinski
Sat Apr 7, 2012 5:11 pm (PDT)
Oh, sorry! My bad! :-(
I've just finished, finally, running through the Flashback tests on
both machines, each of which has Java disabled in Safari, and that was
foremost in my mind. (Neither showed infection, BTW)
My apologies.
...................Mike
On Apr 7, 2012, at 8:06 PM, Dane Reugger wrote:
> It's disabled in Safari .. not your computer.
>
> https://discussions.apple.com/ thread/3190134? start=0&tstart= 0
>
> -Dane
>
> On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM, Michael P. Stupinski
> <mpstupinski@snet.net >wrote:
>
>> ence in performance.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> --------------------- --------- ------
>
> Group FAQ:
> <http://www.macsupportcentral. >com/policies/
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
- 1b.
-
Re: How to tell which apps use Java?
Posted by: "Dane Reugger" dane@downtownpc.com dar2112
Sat Apr 7, 2012 5:21 pm (PDT)
No apology needed. Disabling Java in Safari (and chrome, firefox, opera,
etc) should be sufficient as it's the vector for infection. But someone
asked which programs might be using Java so I gave some common examples.
-Dane
On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 7:11 PM, Michael P. Stupinski
<mpstupinski@snet.net >wrote:
> Oh, sorry! My bad! :-(
>
> I've just finished, finally, running through the Flashback tests on
> both machines, each of which has Java disabled in Safari, and that was
> foremost in my mind. (Neither showed infection, BTW)
>
> My apologies.
>
> ...................Mike
>
>
> On Apr 7, 2012, at 8:06 PM, Dane Reugger wrote:
>
> > It's disabled in Safari .. not your computer.
> >
> > https://discussions.apple.com/ thread/3190134? start=0&tstart= 0
> >
> > -Dane
> >
> > On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM, Michael P. Stupinski
> > <mpstupinski@snet.net >wrote:
> >
> >> ence in performance.
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > --------------------- --------- ------
> >
> > Group FAQ:
> > <http://www.macsupportcentral. >com/policies/
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --------------------- --------- ------
>
> Group FAQ:
> <http://www.macsupportcentral. >com/policies/
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
- 1c.
-
Re: How to tell which apps use Java?
Posted by: "paul smith" kullervo@nycap.rr.com waldonny
Sat Apr 7, 2012 8:13 pm (PDT)
I found only one - Vuze, a BitTorrent client that I rarely use.
I have in the past tried out OpenOffice and LibreOffice, but currently just have NeoOffice, which did not show in the Terminal check.
--
PSmith
MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, OS 10.7.3 iPhone 4S 64 GB, iOS 5.1
On Apr 7, 2012, at 6:08 PM, N.A. Nada wrote:
I have already found a Terminal command to show me what apps I have that use Java. See my second post for a thread at Apple Discussions that gave me the answer.
The apps that I currently have that use Java are:
Adobe Bridge CS3, four indicence, and I can not remember why I installed this
Callpod Keeper, better than a dozen incidence
Evernote, one incidence, and it looks minor
LibreOffice, several hundred incidence
OpenOffice, a several dozen
Stanza,one incidence, and it looks major
- 1d.
-
Re: How to tell which apps use Java?
Posted by: "Dane Reugger" dane@downtownpc.com dar2112
Sat Apr 7, 2012 8:44 pm (PDT)
I just now looked at the terminal command and all it's doing is searching
the normal Application directory for Java app (jar files) but you can find
them else where like /Library/Application Support and more I'm sure. And
the one you are worried will be buried in the Safari cache or more likely
already have deleted itself.
It's interesting to note that apparently if you have Word or Skype
installed and don't type your password when prompted - the virus will
simply delete itself. And it's disturbing to note that it can infect you
even if you don't type your password when prompted.
http://www.f-secure.com/ v-descs/trojan- downloader_ osx_flashback_ i.shtml
-Dane
On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 10:13 PM, paul smith <kullervo@nycap.rr.com > wrote:
> I found only one - Vuze, a BitTorrent client that I rarely use.
> I have in the past tried out OpenOffice and LibreOffice, but currently
> just have NeoOffice, which did not show in the Terminal check.
> --
> PSmith
> MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, OS 10.7.3 iPhone
> 4S 64 GB, iOS 5.1
>
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 7, 2012, at 6:08 PM, N.A. Nada wrote:
>
> I have already found a Terminal command to show me what apps I have that
> use Java. See my second post for a thread at Apple Discussions that gave me
> the answer.
>
> The apps that I currently have that use Java are:
>
> Adobe Bridge CS3, four indicence, and I can not remember why I installed
> this
> Callpod Keeper, better than a dozen incidence
> Evernote, one incidence, and it looks minor
> LibreOffice, several hundred incidence
> OpenOffice, a several dozen
> Stanza,one incidence, and it looks major
>
>
>
> --------------------- --------- ------
>
> Group FAQ:
> <http://www.macsupportcentral. >com/policies/
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
- 1e.
-
Re: How to tell which apps use Java?
Posted by: "N.A. Nada" whodo678@comcast.net
Sun Apr 8, 2012 2:08 am (PDT)
Dane, I'm guessing you are responding to Paul, but don't see anything in his post that he is worried about an infection.
I'm the OP of this thread and the issue is not infection, but which apps use Java. My Macs are not infected, but with the frenzy at the moment, and Apple having stated in 2010 (?) that they will be moving away from Java, I figured it was time to start to replace apps that use Java.
By default Java is not installed with Lion, unless it is present when upgraded. With 10.8 coming in the near future, there might be an issue with apps that rely on Java. Just speculation on my part.
I wanted to know if any of my critical apps use Java. My password safe is the only one that is a big issue of the 6 apps that I have that use Java. I just purchased Evernote and it has only one minor use of Java, and I have a feeling it can be easily removed without causing any problems.
Brent
On Apr 7, 2012, at 8:43 PM, Dane Reugger wrote:
> I just now looked at the terminal command and all it's doing is searching
> the normal Application directory for Java app (jar files) but you can find
> them else where like /Library/Application Support and more I'm sure. And
> the one you are worried will be buried in the Safari cache or more likely
> already have deleted itself.
>
> It's interesting to note that apparently if you have Word or Skype
> installed and don't type your password when prompted - the virus will
> simply delete itself. And it's disturbing to note that it can infect you
> even if you don't type your password when prompted.
>
> http://www.f-secure.com/ v-descs/trojan- downloader_ osx_flashback_ i.shtml
>
> -Dane
>
> On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 10:13 PM, paul smith <kullervo@nycap.rr.com > wrote:
>
> > I found only one - Vuze, a BitTorrent client that I rarely use.
> > I have in the past tried out OpenOffice and LibreOffice, but currently
> > just have NeoOffice, which did not show in the Terminal check.
> > --
> > PSmith
> > MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, OS 10.7.3 iPhone
> > 4S 64 GB, iOS 5.1
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Apr 7, 2012, at 6:08 PM, N.A. Nada wrote:
> >
> > I have already found a Terminal command to show me what apps I have that
> > use Java. See my second post for a thread at Apple Discussions that gave me
> > the answer.
> >
> > The apps that I currently have that use Java are:
> >
> > Adobe Bridge CS3, four indicence, and I can not remember why I installed
> > this
> > Callpod Keeper, better than a dozen incidence
> > Evernote, one incidence, and it looks minor
> > LibreOffice, several hundred incidence
> > OpenOffice, a several dozen
> > Stanza,one incidence, and it looks major
> >
> >
> >
> > --------------------- --------- ------
> >
> > Group FAQ:
> > <http://www.macsupportcentral. >com/policies/
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
- 1f.
-
Re: How to tell which apps use Java?
Posted by: "John Masters" johnmasters@me.com joemastersk
Sun Apr 8, 2012 2:14 am (PDT)
Brent,
I'm using Lion without Java installed. The only two apps I have that use Java are, as you noted Evernote, and Nissus Writer Pro which uses some Libre Office libraries. I have never encountered an issue with either application in daily use. There may be some functionality missing but it's nothing that affects me (as yet).
John
On 8 Apr 2012, at 10:08, N.A. Nada wrote:
> Dane, I'm guessing you are responding to Paul, but don't see anything in his post that he is worried about an infection.
>
> I'm the OP of this thread and the issue is not infection, but which apps use Java. My Macs are not infected, but with the frenzy at the moment, and Apple having stated in 2010 (?) that they will be moving away from Java, I figured it was time to start to replace apps that use Java.
>
> By default Java is not installed with Lion, unless it is present when upgraded. With 10.8 coming in the near future, there might be an issue with apps that rely on Java. Just speculation on my part.
>
> I wanted to know if any of my critical apps use Java. My password safe is the only one that is a big issue of the 6 apps that I have that use Java. I just purchased Evernote and it has only one minor use of Java, and I have a feeling it can be easily removed without causing any problems.
>
> Brent
>
>
> On Apr 7, 2012, at 8:43 PM, Dane Reugger wrote:
>
>> I just now looked at the terminal command and all it's doing is searching
>> the normal Application directory for Java app (jar files) but you can find
>> them else where like /Library/Application Support and more I'm sure. And
>> the one you are worried will be buried in the Safari cache or more likely
>> already have deleted itself.
>>
>> It's interesting to note that apparently if you have Word or Skype
>> installed and don't type your password when prompted - the virus will
>> simply delete itself. And it's disturbing to note that it can infect you
>> even if you don't type your password when prompted.
>>
>> http://www.f-secure.com/ v-descs/trojan- downloader_ osx_flashback_ i.shtml
>>
>> -Dane
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 10:13 PM, paul smith <kullervo@nycap.rr.com > wrote:
>>
>>> I found only one - Vuze, a BitTorrent client that I rarely use.
>>> I have in the past tried out OpenOffice and LibreOffice, but currently
>>> just have NeoOffice, which did not show in the Terminal check.
>>> --
>>> PSmith
>>> MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, OS 10.7.3 iPhone
>>> 4S 64 GB, iOS 5.1
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Apr 7, 2012, at 6:08 PM, N.A. Nada wrote:
>>>
>>> I have already found a Terminal command to show me what apps I have that
>>> use Java. See my second post for a thread at Apple Discussions that gave me
>>> the answer.
>>>
>>> The apps that I currently have that use Java are:
>>>
>>> Adobe Bridge CS3, four indicence, and I can not remember why I installed
>>> this
>>> Callpod Keeper, better than a dozen incidence
>>> Evernote, one incidence, and it looks minor
>>> LibreOffice, several hundred incidence
>>> OpenOffice, a several dozen
>>> Stanza,one incidence, and it looks major
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------- --------- ------
>>>
>>> Group FAQ:
>>> <http://www.macsupportcentral. >com/policies/
>>>
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --------------------- --------- ------
>
> Group FAQ:
> <http://www.macsupportcentral. >com/policies/
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
- 1g.
-
Re: How to tell which apps use Java?
Posted by: "N.A. Nada" whodo678@comcast.net
Sun Apr 8, 2012 2:43 am (PDT)
Thanks, John.
From looking at the name of the component in Evernote, I didn't think it was a big deal. Here is the only path that was listed for Evernote.
/Applications/Evernote. app/Contents/ Resources/ ink-render- 0.1-SNAPSHOT. jar
Brent
On Apr 8, 2012, at 2:14 AM, John Masters wrote:
> Brent,
>
> I'm using Lion without Java installed. The only two apps I have that use Java are, as you noted Evernote, and Nissus Writer Pro which uses some Libre Office libraries. I have never encountered an issue with either application in daily use. There may be some functionality missing but it's nothing that affects me (as yet).
- 2a.
-
Re: Monitor for system 9.1
Posted by: "Eric" emanmb@yahoo.com emanmb
Sat Apr 7, 2012 5:23 pm (PDT)
I have an Acer 1914 LCD plugged into mine. I assume it is a VGA connection so if you can't find one w/a VGA connector or can't find a used one on Craigslist, perhaps there's a converter in your future so you can connect a newer model.
Eric
--- In macsupportcentral@yahoogroups. , "FredPolka" <FPZISM@...> wrote:com
>
> Hallo,
> this may sound crazy, but I still have a functional Mac G3 with system 9.1 from which I do my music arranging. Recently, the monitor "died" and the local Apple store was unable to test it to find out what happened.
> Anyway, does anyone know where I can find a monitor that can work with MAC OS 9.1. None of the new monitors are compatibile.
> Just for the record, I do have two newer G5's with 10.5.8 and 10.6.8. I'm just afraid to upgrade the program where I do the music arranging and all the files were done in system 9.1.
> Please send suggestions to my E-mail
>
> Fred Ziwich
> North Olmsted, Oh
> FredPolka@...
>
- 2b.
-
Re: Monitor for system 9.1
Posted by: "Denver Dan" denver.dan@verizon.net denverdan22180
Sat Apr 7, 2012 6:29 pm (PDT)
Howdy.
You don't say which model Power Mac G3 you have. However, it probably
has a VGA video port.
If you can't find a current monitor with a VGA port then you will need
a video adapter.
These are commonly available at many computer equipment stores and
online. It would be a VGA to DVI adapter and can run from around $6.00
to $30.00 USD.
If you search you might find an LCD monitor that has both a VGA port
and a DVI port. I have a 24 inch Samsung LCD that has both types of
ports built in but I'd guess that these are getting harder to find.
VGA is an analog technology and DVI is a digital technology.
Denver Dan
On Sat, 07 Apr 2012 02:21:12 +0000, FredPolka wrote:
> this may sound crazy, but I still have a functional Mac G3 with
> system 9.1 from which I do my music arranging. Recently, the monitor
> "died" and the local Apple store was unable to test it to find out
> what happened.
> Anyway, does anyone know where I can find a monitor that can work
> with MAC OS 9.1. None of the new monitors are compatibile.
> Just for the record, I do have two newer G5's with 10.5.8 and
> 10.6.8. I'm just afraid to upgrade the program where I do the music
> arranging and all the files were done in system 9.1.
> Please send suggestions to my E-mail
>
> Fred Ziwich
- 3a.
-
Re: How access printer from Terminal
Posted by: "Otto Nikolaus" otto.nikolaus@googlemail.com nikyzf
Sat Apr 7, 2012 5:47 pm (PDT)
You need the IP address of the printer, and check that it accepts LPR
commands.
I wouldn't use LPR unless I really needed to, though.
Otto
On 7 April 2012 16:08, Jim <oldtechie@wi.rr.com > wrote:
> I'm practicing with terminal,I have a big book on terminal for the MAC
> I have come to the LPR filename cmd, but term doesn't know where ny Mac
> printer is.
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
- 3b.
-
Re: How access printer from Terminal
Posted by: "OldTechie" oldtechie@wi.rr.com jimpurcell2001
Sat Apr 7, 2012 5:56 pm (PDT)
Otto,
Nikolaus wrote:
Is there a terminal comand that will fget me the IP address of the printer, might as well stay in Term as ugh as possible.
Jiim
> Y\need the IP address of the printer, and check that it accepts LPR
> commands.
> I wouldn't use LPR unless I really needed to, though.
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
- 4a.
-
Re: Resetting startup disk
Posted by: "Andrew Buc" andrewbuc@staxman.net andrewbuc
Sat Apr 7, 2012 6:26 pm (PDT)
On Apr 7, 2012, at 4:50 PM, Otto Nikolaus wrote:
> I think we need more info. You have an external drive with 5
> partitions?
> (OS X sees partitions as separate *volumes* so it helps to be
> careful with
> terminology.)
Yes, 1 physical drive, 5 partitions. To address a lot of different
folks' points in one go:
All volumes show up in Disk Utility. Total drive size shows as
298.1GB in DU. Each partition is 59.5GB with ~41GB free.
Drive takes its power from the FW cable. OWC sells an auxiliary power
brick for this drive, but I haven't felt the need for one. Lights on
drive case light up just fine. I originally set up SuperDuper
preferences to my liking a few years ago and haven't touched them
since. Drive was bought new in November '11, and I've been able to
make bootable clones on it with SD--until now.
I figured that if I was going to run Disk Warrior, I might as well
run it on the internal HD first. I then made another clone on one of
the partitions on the external drive and ran DW on the clone, just in
case.
After all this, the internal HD is the only drive that shows up as
bootable on option-boot. I'll be interested to see how I do when the
new FW cable arrives in the mail next week.
I've wondered if the FW ports on the computer have gone bad, but I
don't think it's cost-effective to pursue this angle on a 9-y.o. G4
iMac. This was going to be the year I replace the computer anyway.
Thanks to all for their thoughts, and if you have any additional
ones, I'm all ears.
- 4b.
-
Re: Resetting startup disk
Posted by: "Jim Saklad" jimdoc@me.com jimdoc01
Sat Apr 7, 2012 8:28 pm (PDT)
> Yes, 1 physical drive, 5 partitions. To address a lot of different folks' points in one go:
>
> All volumes show up in Disk Utility. Total drive size shows as 298.1GB in DU. Each partition is 59.5GB with ~41GB free.
> .....
> After all this, the internal HD is the only drive that shows up as bootable on option-boot. I'll be interested to see how I do when the new FW cable arrives in the mail next week.
>
> I've wondered if the FW ports on the computer have gone bad, but I don't think it's cost-effective to pursue this angle on a 9-y.o. G4 iMac. This was going to be the year I replace the computer anyway.
If all of the partitions show up in Disk Utility, I *strongly* doubt that there is any problem with the cable. Or the Firewire port on the computer, or the Firewire port on the external.
For some reason, while the backups were made as clones, they apparently were not made as *bootable* clones. Why, I don't know. Are the partitions in fact GUID partitions and not APM ones?
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Jim Saklad mailto:jimdoc@me.com
- 5a.
-
Deliverance DVD/Handbrake
Posted by: "HAL9000" jrswebhome@yahoo.com jrswebhome
Sat Apr 7, 2012 9:11 pm (PDT)
I can play the Deliverance dvd on my DVD player w TV, but I want to copy it using Handbrake. Inserting the DVD in my 27"iMac/3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/12gigRAM/OSX6.8, and it's like the iMac is confused or extremely super slow to acquire to movie. Handbrake Version 0.9.4 x86_64 (2009112300) seems to be confused as well. It has quit a few times while trying to begin the process of taking the DVD movie into an MP$ file.
I don't understand if there is nothing wrong w the DVD (plays fine) why is the computer having such a hard time with it? Normally any movie I want to rip, if it plays fine, then it rips fine.
Anyone run across a reason why the DVD is baffling the computer?
jr
- 5b.
-
Re: Deliverance DVD/Handbrake
Posted by: "HAL9000" jrswebhome@yahoo.com jrswebhome
Sat Apr 7, 2012 9:42 pm (PDT)
Upgraded Handbrake to Version 0.9.6 x86_64 (2012022800) and worked. jr
--- In macsupportcentral@yahoogroups. , "HAL9000" <jrswebhome@com ...> wrote:
>
> I can play the Deliverance dvd on my DVD player w TV, but I want to copy it using Handbrake. Inserting the DVD in my 27"iMac/3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/12gigRAM/OSX6.8, and it's like the iMac is confused or extremely super slow to acquire to movie. Handbrake Version 0.9.4 x86_64 (2009112300) seems to be confused as well. It has quit a few times while trying to begin the process of taking the DVD movie into an MP$ file.
>
> I don't understand if there is nothing wrong w the DVD (plays fine) why is the computer having such a hard time with it? Normally any movie I want to rip, if it plays fine, then it rips fine.
>
> Anyone run across a reason why the DVD is baffling the computer?
>
> jr
>
- 6a.
-
HEY
Posted by: "Nanci Harvey" motherfive_2006@yahoo.ca motherfive_2006
Sat Apr 7, 2012 10:18 pm (PDT)
- 6b.
-
Re: HEY
Posted by: "Earle Jones" earle.jones@comcast.net earlejones501
Sat Apr 7, 2012 10:29 pm (PDT)
On Apr 7, 12, at 10:18 PM, Nanci Harvey wrote:
*
Take my name off of your shit list!
That's an order!
- 6c.
-
Re: HEY
Posted by: "Earle Jones" earle.jones@comcast.net earlejones501
Sat Apr 7, 2012 10:29 pm (PDT)
On Apr 7, 12, at 10:18 PM, Nanci Harvey wrote:
- 6d.
-
Re: HEY
Posted by: "paul smith" kullervo@nycap.rr.com waldonny
Sat Apr 7, 2012 10:57 pm (PDT)
Die, spamming scum!
--
PSmith
MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, OS 10.7.3 iPhone 4S 64 GB, iOS 5.1
On Apr 8, 2012, at 1:18 AM, Nanci Harvey wrote:
wow this is crazy you should give it a look http://www.anews15o.net/biz/
- 7a.
-
Flashback Followup
Posted by: "Randy B. Singer" randy@macattorney.com randybrucesinger
Sun Apr 8, 2012 1:46 am (PDT)
I sent this message out to my user group today. I thought that the
folks on this discussion list might be interested in it.
This is a followup to my previous message about Flashback (which, by
the way, at this point is not technically a Trojan, since it can
infect your computer with no warning or user interaction whatsoever,
simply by you visiting a malicious, or just an infected, Web site.) I
thought that everyone would appreciate more information.
I've now sent out a mailing to over 9,000 subscribers of The
MacAttorney Newsletter about Flashback, and I've posted about it on a
dozen Mac discussion lists. So I've reached somewhere around 20,000
Mac users. Users have rushed to check to see if they were infected.
So far, not a single user of the many who have written back has been
infected with Flashback.
While I have no doubt that Flashback is real, and that it is a good
idea to do all that you can to protect yourself from it, I'm
beginning to think that much of this scare was hype invented by anti-
virus software firms in Russia, from whom the original report eminated.
Some research on the Web turns up reports that the "600,000 infected
machines" written about may not have necessarily been Macs. That
number likely includes other OS's, the proportion of which to Macs is
unknown. (i.e. It may be that mostly Windows computers were infected,
and very few Macs.)
Daring Fireball (written by widely respected John Gruber), a very
popular Mac blog, a few days ago posted about Flashback:
<http://daringfireball.net/linked/ >2012/04/05/ flashback
As of last Thursday, he says he has heard from "about a dozen or so
Daring Fireball readers whove been hit by this."
The problem is that when there is a panic about a new virus, there
will always be a few folks who aren't deep thinkers who will rush to
tell you that they have been infected based on any change in their
computer, or even in their lives, real or imagined. Once you manage
to elicit the details from them, it becomes obvious that their report
isn't credible.
Also, the media has reported that "security experts" have confirmed
that Flashback is a huge threat. There is a problem with consulting
with security experts. I call it the "to a hammer, everything looks
like a nail" problem. These are folks who have been trained to
recognize the millions of viruses that exist for Windows. To them,
everything in the entire world is a huge security threat. I've never
heard of a security expert who has said: " Just relax; start worrying
if and when there are verifiable reports of computers being infected."
I wouldn't be surprised if, after all is said and done, that not a
single one of us will be infected by Flashback, and not a single one
of us will know anyone first-hand who has been infected by it.
Now, let me be completely clear, all of the above is not to say that
you shouldn't take all necessary steps to protect yourself from
Flashback. You really should. But you should know that there is no
reason to get paranoid. Your Mac is still the most secure personal
computing platform out there. There isn't a flood of Mac malware
hitting us. The sky is not falling. It is very important to consider
the source of any information that you hear about the Macinotsh, and
that includes the media which doesn't generally have a clue about the
Mac. There are, unfortunately, lots of Apple-haters and people with
various questionable motives in the world.
An interesting blog post:
<http://beyondbridges.net/2012/ >04/apple- and-the-flashbac k-trojan/
Various additional bits that might be helpful:
Macworld now has an article about Flashback:
<http://www.macworld.com/article/ 1166254/
what_you_need_to_know_about_ the_flashback_ trojan.html>
How to check for and disable Java in OS X
"Java used to be deeply embedded in OS X, but in recent versions of
the OS it's an optional install. Here is how to check to see if it is
installed, and how to disable or remove it."
<http://reviews.cnet.com/ 8301-13727_ 7-57408841- 263/how-to- check-for-
and-disable-java-in-os- x/>
Some users have asked if there are any applications in common use
that will be effected if they totally disable Java on their
Macintosh. Here are the ones that I know of:
Evernote
MoneyDance
OpenOffice-based suites (i.e. LibreOffice, NeoOffice, OpenOffice/Mac)
I hope that you find this message useful.
_____________________ _________ _________ ____
Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)
Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
http://www.macattorney.com/ts. html
_____________________ _________ _________ ____
- 7b.
-
Re: Flashback Followup
Posted by: "Vixpix" vixpix26@hvc.rr.com nyskater
Sun Apr 8, 2012 4:15 am (PDT)
Great, precise information! I'm going to send this to my daughter, who is a new Mac user (and a few other friends).
Vickie 
Sent from a spoiled little iPad
On Apr 8, 2012, at 4:45 AM, "Randy B. Singer" <randy@macattorney.com > wrote:
> I sent this message out to my user group today. I thought that the
> folks on this discussion list might be interested in it.
>
>
>
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