Opener is not a virus

So the Mac has a virus according to this guy:

Apple has a Virus? Congratulations!

The so called virus is called opener (aka renepo, original eh, Tobor?). Except it isn’t a virus. A virus infects your computer without you having to do anything much. Opener is a program that you have to install with administrator level access. That’s right, you have type your password into the freaking computer to run the thing. Opener does not propagate via email, won’t mail a copy to everyone in your address book etc. It’s just a nasty program generally referred to as malware.

Of course down the road someone could bundle it with a legit looking program and you could get duped into installing the thing. And that would be bad becauuse it can do some very nasty things.

One more word on the bonehead who wrote the original article:
Apple sold 836,000 Macs in the latest quarter, up six percent from the previous quarter.
Here he is trying to make it seem like Macs are gaining traction in the market. They may well be, but you can’t tell it from the numbers he posted. Those numbers are still less than two pecent of all new computers sold so Apple may be selling more computers but their market share is declining. (I expect next quarters numbers to show Apple gaining market share). Obviously the malware writers are not too interested market share percentage in this case.

For a complete scoop on opener and what to do about it head over to:
Opener Malware at Macintouch.

That’s about it for today, just wanted to clarify the issue after I read that misleading article

Since I was chastised for not giving links in my last hurried post here ya go:
Electroal College Predictor

Hey I like interesting art, cheesy art sucks.
Thomas Kincaid Painter of Crap

Someone sent me like a million anti Bush links. Some were better than others but this one really killed me (and I’m not posting the rest just cause I don’t want to get anyone stirred up)
Bush running against Jesus

Your personal guide to spin. If you’re not partisan but you want to be partisan a good guide can be found here:
Digital Bitterness

Ashlee Simpson iPod NEW! From Apple!

Slightly relayed topic: does anyone else think that new U2 iPod looks horrible? I mean red and black looks nice on a coral snake but on the iPod it looks like a two year old got stuck with a very limited choice of crayons.

Nifty Game:
Star Wars Kids

A great movie:
Don’t leave a battery on your desk

The Pres clowns around. I know some folks think this clip is anti Bush but it makes me more sympathetic to the guy. In fact I’m pretty sure he passed me in traffic earlier today.
One finger Victory Slaute

Hello Kitty hates me. It’s true. Heck I could fill pages with all the stuff that has gone wrong since the Hello Kitty toaster came into my life (Example Cards get swept by Sox) but I won’t. I’ll just note that there is some consolation in not being the only one:
Hello Cthullu

You want some quality Mac reading? Some real top shelf stuff? The kind of deep and original insight that only the best and brightest analysts can possibly come up with? Hey we all do, so get over it. If you just want read a mac realted piece I suggest:
Linux Kills Apple

So you got your links. I get a cks/BL-Hello Kitty tridiot rating of….

104%

If you’re wondering about the daytime post…Preschool kicks a$$. Now back to THE PROJECT.