Botnet goes on Mac attack
<b>week in review</b> Trojan strikes Mac users, while Facebook strikes back at Yahoo with a patent suit of its own. Also: Yahoo layoffs.
week in review Long thought of as safer than its competition, Apple's Mac platform is battling a nasty piece of malware designed to steal users' personal information.
More than 600,000 Macs worldwide are infected with the Flashback Trojan, according to Russian antivirus company Dr. Web. The malware was initially found in September 2011 masquerading as a fake Adobe Flash Player plug-in installer, but in the past few months it has evolved to exploiting Java vulnerabilities to target Mac systems.
Simply visiting a malicious Web site containing Flashback on an OS X system with Java installed can result in an infection. Once installed, the Flashback will inject code into Web browsers and other applications like Skype to harvest passwords and other information from those program's users.
• Java update for OS X patches Flashback malware exploit
• Fighting Flashback, Apple issues second Mac update
• How to remove the Flashback malware from OS X
• Apple's security code of silence: A big problem
For more information on what Flashback is, how to determine if a system is infected, and steps to take to remedy the situation, CNET has created a thorough FAQ.
More headlines
Facebook vs. Yahoo: Who's shaking down whom?
Suddenly, the winner of this fierce patent war between two of Silicon Valley's biggest names has become a lot less obvious.• Facebook strikes back, countersues Yahoo
• Silicon Valley has Facebook's back in Yahoo knife fight
• The ten patents Facebook claims Yahoo infringed
Yes, Google needed Motorola for the patents
In an interview with CNET, Google's new patent law chief says he has no intention of striking first in the courtroom, but that he's ready to fight back...hard.• Google's Project Glass: You ain't seen nothin' yet
• How much is that patent lawsuit going to cost you?
• Why the coming patent crisis is inevitable
Google: Yep, we're testing augmented-reality glasses
After months of leaks, Google posts a video showing how this futuristic technology might work in someone's daily life.• Google X Labs: First Project Glass, next space elevators?
Rocker Neil Young challenging MP3s with new audio format
The famous musician has filed several trademarks related to a new high-definition MP3 alternative, reports Rolling Stone. The government could register the trademarks by the holidays.Yahoo to lay off 2,000 workers to 'reshape' company future
About 14 percent of Yahoo staffers will be hit by outright termination or phased transition. The company says the move will deliver about $375 million of annualized savings.• If Yahoo has any strategy at all, let's hear it
• How does Yahoo get off the cutting-to-greatness treadmill?
Facebook: The e-commerce future or wasteland?
A new report from Reuters claims a host of companies are betting big on e-commerce for the world's largest social network, and they think it could be huge.• Facebook goes with Nasdaq for IPO
• Facebook under fire (again) for all-male board
Apple finally meets its match (Hint: It's called the DOJ)
A settlement is said to be near on an e-book pricing investigation, and any deal will force Apple to bend.• People who love e-reading simply love reading
Instagram for Android grabs 1 million downloads on first day
Debuting on Google Play, the photo sharing app has already snapped up a hefty number of users.• Instagram for Android: The good, the bad, the ugly
• iPhone users: Android is ruining our Instagram club
• Getting started with Instagram for Android
Groupon sued by shareholder over financial revisions
Complaint claims the daily deals site misled investors about the state of its financial health.• Groupon may face SEC probe over earnings revision
72-year-old census data proves irresistible
A data dump from the 1940 census reveals life in the Great Depression and the New Deal era -- and draws huge digital crowds that overwhelm servers.• The census' broken privacy promise
Also of note
• Arizona pushes law to make 'annoying' comments illegal
• Anonymous hacks hundreds of Web sites in China
• Mike Daisey disappears, then reappears