Virus warning

Last month, my computer picked up a nasty little addition. On some site or another, I picked up a little bot virus that was brand new and shiny, so none of my security software picked it up. It's a little Java packet that downloads with a normal Java packet, installs itself as a tiny little program, contacts a remote computer to let it know where it is, and then goes silent. Every so often, the remote computer contacts it, and it emails spam to all the names on my contact list.

Do a scan with mulitple scanners, and nothing found.

I finally uninstalled my McAfee security suite and installed Microsoft Security Essentials. It took over 10 hours of scanning, but it found the little bugger and killed it in its two manifestations, one in the normal part of the computer, and one hidden in my weekly backup. Now I have to double-check with another scanner, create a new Restore Point and delete the Restore Points that have been stored, so it doesn't get reinstalled.

This was a Java exploit, and the newest Java version is now immunized, so if you haven't updated your Java, do it immediately!

Am I safe on my Mac, Mike?

Safer. I heard an interview with a computer expert in the last week or so who was saying that the predominance of the i-pods, i-phone, i-book, and i-pad was beginning to make Apple products a much bigger target. He talked to several people who had NO virus protection on their apple products, and he said they were seriously asking for trouble.

I think most Apple stuff has some flavor of Java on it, doesn't it? This was a deal that I got when it was newly released. Even most of the AV programs won't find it yet. I ran about 5 different scans before I installed Microsoft Security essentials and got it killed. I hope.