February 17th, 2006
Oompa Loompa Virus Hits Apple OSX
By Jimmy Daniels
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
Looks like Apple users may have one less thing to brag about, as Times Online is reporting that Sophos, an online web security firm has found the first apple virus to target the Mac OS X operating system.
A computer virus, thought to be the first to attack Apple’s Mac OS X operating system, has been identified by internet security companies. The Leap-A, or Oompa Loompa, virus is a potentially malicious program that is disguised as a simple image file. Experts are worried that its discovery will prompt hackers to mount the first serious campaign against Apple users.
The news is a blow to Apple’s reputation for security and to users of its Macintosh computers, which have long been regarded as far less vulnerable to virus attacks than PCs. Source: Times Online.
We Say: A report I read a few weeks ago said Apple’s market share was growing some, so there are bound to be more viruses showing up sooner or later. I’m surprised there’s not some spyware out there yet to take advantage of the Apple user base, but I’d bet money someone is working on one.
Alice Adds: Great name!
Shadow says:
Some are reporting that this is not a virus but a trojan horse, as it doesn’t self-propagate. From Andrew Welch’s dissection
You cannot be infected by this unless you do all of the following:
1) Are somehow sent (via email, iChat, etc.) or download the “latestpics.tgz” file
2) Double-click on the file to decompress it
3) Double-click on the resulting file to “open” it
…and then for non-Admin users, it fails to infect most applications.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:06 am
Jimmy says:
Ya, it said in the article that it’s not a serious threat. Just thought it was news worthy for the simple fact that it is the first one.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:44 am
andcraig says:
No..there have been trojans for OSX before. Not really the first one.
And yeah, more will probably pop up, but due to things like needing admin password for installing anything that makes a change to the system, its a lot harder to make something thats self propogating.
If an idiot goes through the steps to get this onto their computer, i’m gonna say they deserve it.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:54 am
Jim Frost says:
Hey, this thing did manage to infect about 50 computers.
More seriously, it offers a ready built framework for creating more of them. I think it will be interesting to see how Apple handles this.
February 17th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
David Johnston says:
Well, it will automatically install itself if you’re somehow dumb enough to have enabled the root account and be using it I hear. Of course, the chances of that happening are pretty low since the root account is disabled by default and most people smart enough to enable probably would also be smart enough not to be using it for everyday things.
February 17th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Jim Rome says:
Ok it is finally time to let the 5 mac users out there know that the virii are coming!!
And like OSX I am out!!
February 21st, 2006 at 6:18 am
Steven Jones says:
In tribute to the virus namesake,
OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DOO
I’VE GOT A PERFECT PUZZLE FOR YOU
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADAH DEE
IF YOU ARE WISE YOU’LL LISTEN ME
WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU GUZZLE INTEL?
SHIPPING ON WHAT BILL GATES HAS MAKE HELL?
WHAT ARE YOU AT? TRYING TO INSTALL ON FAT?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL COME OF THAT?
I DON’T LIKE THE LOOK OF IT
OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DAH
IF YOU’RE NOT GREEDY YOU WILL GO FAR
YOU WILL LIVE IN HAPPINESS TOO
LIKE THE OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DO
DOOMPADEE DOO
Honestly, I just thought it was funny and didn’t know if anyone had tried to joke out the song yet… it’s not my best work - only put about 5 minutes into it.
But this is crap. For a smart user, Mac is still king. I don’t own one or support them at work. I know some that do and don’t see them with the same stresses that I have. Anyone who is decenlty savvy with any *nix will know not to use root to do everything - heck even Windows learned that lesson. (RunAs…)
There could be another 10 virii a day and it would still be more secure than the 7 patch every 2 week Windows OS. And would take a couple of years to catch up with the viral infectability of Windows.
My .5 cents…
February 21st, 2006 at 8:06 am
The Staunton News Leader says:
Worm targets Mac OS X
Just after Apple admited there were viruses for Mac OS X, another virus appears and it infects your computer using an 8 month old Max OS bug.
February 25th, 2006 at 9:58 am
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March 14th, 2006 at 5:02 am
brittany says:
does anyone know how to get rid of it?
March 19th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Rikki says:
Yeah evry site seems to tell you what it is but not how to get rid of it?? please help it would be really appreciated because its really annoying… thankyou
March 20th, 2007 at 10:37 am
tom says:
ClamXav:not ad for it but it is a free anti-virus that can delete the trojan
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:31 pm