New Mac Virus Targets Porn Surfers

SAN FRANCISCO — Adult webmasters and consumers of adult entertainment should take note: using a Mac is no guarantee of safety against viruses.

A new virus targets online porn hunters. It prompts users to download a free video player, but instead it delivers a payload of malicious code, according to Mac security software vendor Intego, which first reported the virus in an alert posted Wednesday.

“A malicious Trojan Horse has been found on several pornography web sites, claiming to install a video codec necessary to view free pornographic videos on Macs,” Intego stated in its alert. “A great deal of spam has been posted to many Mac forums, in an attempt to lead users to these sites.”

Internet technology expert Brandon Shalton told XBIZ that Mac users should be prepared for more attacks.

"Mac folks always were so proud of the fact that Macs didn't have as many viruses," said Shalton, founder of the traffic analysis service T3Report.com. "Well, look at the proportions of Windows-based [computers] versus Mac, and the numbers explain why windows gets targeted more. There are more people to target. The virus writers want to do a lot of damage for whatever their benefits are, so you go where the masses are. Now, I think the virus writers probably see Mac as a challenge."

Once installed, the virus morphs into a phishing machine, stealing the user's personal information and passwords while directing the user to fraudulent phishing websites and hitting the user with unsolicited pop-up ads.

The good news is that the virus depends on human gullibility to proliferate – it doesn't exploit a vulnerability in the Mac OS, unlike the first recorded Mac virus, which used Mac's iChat program as a dispersal mechanism.

Windows is still the dominant player in the home-computer market, with more than 90 percent of the market share, but Apple's market share has grown from 2 percent to 8 percent. That success will inevitably bring more threats, according to Internet analyst Bojan Zdrnja.

"Mac users should not think they are invulnerable just by using a Mac and that they can click on absolutely everything," he said.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Aylo Challenges EU's DSA Mandate to Reveal Legal Names of Advertisers, Including Performers

Aylo has filed an appeal with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) challenging the EU's Digital Services Act mandate to disclose the legal names of advertisers, including performers, in a publicly accessible database.

Irish Senate Endorses Age Verification Proposal Based on Anti-Porn US State Laws

The Senate of the Republic of Ireland — known by its Gaelic name Seanad Éireann — has endorsed an age verification bill introduced by a senator who said he was inspired by the U.S. state laws promoted by religious conservative anti-porn crusaders.

Meta Admits to Updating Database of Banned Images Based on 'Media Reports'

Meta has told its Oversight Board that the company relies on “media reports” when deciding to add images to its permanent database of banned content for its platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.

MintStars Launches Tipping Solution MintPay

MintStars has unveiled payment processing solution MintPay, aiming to make tipping creators easier for fans.

Popular Pakistani Actor and Director Yasir Hussain Proposes Legalizing Porn

Prominent Pakistani actor, director and TV personality Yasir Hussain has sparked debate in the majority-Muslim country by suggesting that pornography should be legalized there and that society should own up to so many Pakistanis already being habitual consumers.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May and June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Senior Labour MP Launches Attack on All Porn, Sex Work

A senior Labour MP on Tuesday launched an attack against adult websites, saying they are “characterized by lawlessness,” and called for further criminalization of all sex work.

Conservative Taxpayers Group Criticizes KOSA's Overreach

Conservative newspaper The Washington Times on Tuesday published an opinion piece by the executive director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, criticizing the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) on constitutional grounds.

Los Angeles-Area Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Over Bogus Adult Sites

A Los Angeles-area man pleaded guilty on Monday to defrauding investors out of more than $1 million “by making false promises that they would receive an ownership interest in several adult entertainment webcam websites and then using their money on personal expenses, including luxury items,” according to the Department of Justice.

More Conservative Organizations Distance Themselves From Anti-Porn Project 2025

A growing list of conservative groups that previously endorsed Project 2025 — which calls for the criminalization of adult content production and distribution — have reportedly distanced themselves from the self-described “presidential transition” blueprint, following Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he disagrees with an unspecified number of its positions.

Show More