Security News > 2006 > February > World's first Mac OS X virus spotted

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-02/17/content_4192009.htm 2006-02-17 www.chinaview.cn BEIJING, Feb.17 (Xinhuanet) -- A mischievous computer worm has been found to hit Apple's OS X operating system, believed to be the first such virus ever to target the Mac platform. Called OSX/Leap-A, the worm is spread via instant messaging programs, according to a posting on the Web site of antivirus software company Sophos. The virus is said to spread using Apple's iChat IM service, forwarding itself as a file called "latestpics.tgz" to an infected user's buddy contacts, according to the Sophos Web site. Clicking on the file allows the malware to install and disguise itself as a harmless-seeming Jpeg icon. "This first Macintosh OS X threat is an example of the continuing spread of malicious code on to other platforms," said Vincent Weafer, senior director at Symantec Security Response, in a statement. The worm will not automatically infect Mac computers, but will ask users to accept the file, Weafer said. Symantec has rated the worm a low-risk security threat. _________________________________ InfoSec News v2.0 - Coming Soon! http://www.infosecnews.org

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-02/17/content_4192009.htm