Mac computers, contrary to popular belief, aren’t immune to malware. Apple computers are increasingly common in workplaces, and anti-malware software designed for a Windows-only ecosystem can’t stop Mac viruses.
So Malwarebytes, which started offering a free Mac malware scanner for home users last summer, is expanding to the business sector with Malwarebytes Breach Remediation for Mac. This isn’t a port of the Windows software, Malwarebyte’s Thomas Reed told Digital Trends. It’s a Mac-specific solution, built from the ground up.
“This tool only finds Mac malware on Mac machines,” said Reed. “Hundreds of Malwarebytes customers demanded protection for their Mac endpoints.”
The command-line driven tool is built primarily for network administrators, and can be deployed according to their specifications. Home users are encouraged to download the free Mac version of Malwarebytes, first released last summer.
“We’re seeing a huge increase in adware,” said Reed. “It’s undergoing exponentail growth, we’re seeing new stuff constantly.”
A lot of this malware is evolving quickly, and new variations aren’t detected by XProtect, the invisible anti-malware bundled with Mac OS X. There hasn’t been a real onslaught yet, despite media hype, but Reed feels the ecosystem may be vulnerable. Mac users, meanwhile, don’t have the same security habits as Windows ones.
“Mac users aren’t equipped to deal with it,” said Reed. “They think they’re safe.”
That feeling of security can lead to bad decisions. Most Mac infections happen because of attempts to pirate software, or users clicking banner ads for video players on porn sites. Having said that, even trusted software has proved vulnerable.
“With the latest ransomware, somebody hacked the Transmission bittorent client website,” said Reed. “But that’s an exception to the rule.”
Malwarebyte’s free home version was released last July. That early versions, according to Reed, were little more than a skinned version of Adware Medic, a free program Reed built while blogging about Mac threats for his site The Safe Mac. That software focused entirely on adware, the most prevalent form of Mac malware. Malwarebytes for Mac has since been re-written from scratch, and at this point removes a wide range of Mac malware.
The commercial Remediation software is based on the same algorithms, but is much easier for IT administrators to implement as they will. It is available as of today.
Mozilla is giving Firefox’s Smart Window two new tricks. If you haven’t tried it yet, Smart Window is an optional AI mode in Firefox with a built-in chat that helps you get things done while you browse. With this update, it can fill out online forms using details from your tabs and keep an eye on websites for you.
Tired of typing the same details into every form?
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.