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How To

How to check for the Mac Flashback Trojan

Nick

Nick

  • Updated:

If you’re not comfortable using Terminal and want to check if you’re infected by the Flashback Trojan, a free simple app called Flashback Checker does it automatically for you. If you’re worried you may have been one of the reported 600,000 Mac users affected by the Trojan, here are the Terminal free steps you need to put your mind at rest. Note that in the rare case that your Mac is infected, you can use the F-Secure Flashback Removal Tool to remove it automatically without needing to use Terminal either.

1. Run Flashback Checker

The simple app Flashback Checker by independent developer Juan Leon checks automatically for you. Just download, Flashback Checker, open the file and click “Check for Flashback Infection”. The app runs a simple script which will confirm whether you are infected or not. Note that it does not remove the trojan. To ensure full removal, you must follow F-Secure’s removal instructions which does require use of Terminal.

2. Run Software Update

To make sure you are protected for future infection, click on the Apple icon in the top left of your desktop and run Software Update. Apple have issued a Java fix for the Flashback Trojan which will be applied to Java once it’s downloaded and installed. Once the update is complete, you’re protected and don’t need to do anything else. If for any reason you can’t update automatically on Lion, you can download the fix for Snow Leopard here and for Lion here.

Although Russian security site Dr. Web claim that around half a million Macs have been infected, I am yet to read of a single case. However, if you do find that you are infected, you must either follow F-Secure’s manual removal instructions or use their free automatic Flashback Removal Tool which is much easier.

It should be stressed that Mac users should not be unduly worried about the Flashback Trojan. No malicious use of it has been detected (such as stealing of bank details, private data etc) and Macs are still infinitely more secure than PCs, something that we’ve discussed here on OnSoftware before.

Nick

Nick

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