New OSX worm.

kennerb · Post by **kennerb** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:47 pm

The first "in the wild" Mac OS X worm was found. As this is the first OS X threat found in the wild, it is getting some press.

OSX.Leap.A
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/av ... eap.a.html

sqook · Post by **sqook** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:20 am

heh, this gave me a good laugh:

Threat assessment:
Number of infections: 0 - 49
Number of sites: 0 - 2
Geographical distribution: Low
Threat containment: Easy
Removal: Easy

Also, you have to accept and open a mysterious attachment with iChat to get infected, so it's not exactly a self-propagating worm beyond the user's control. Still, it's amusing that it's getting press... I can't blame them, though. Every other day I see a new article about the bird flu epidemic.. *ahem*, I mean, chicken little epidemic.

But I think this worm has actually infected more people than the bird flu so far!

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:07 am

and so it begins...

gomi · Post by **gomi** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:08 am

sweetjesus wrote:and so it begins...

And so what begins...

Remember the "Opener" Trojan Virus Worm?

where is it now?

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:57 am

Been plenty of them, they just can't spread.....

Plague can break out on the moon, but with no one to spread it.......

-Ben

jayfly · Post by **jayfly** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:38 pm

If you're looking for details check out Andrew Welch's (president of Ambrosia Software) analysis:

http://www.ambrosiasw.com/forums/index. ... pic=102379

anti-banausic · Post by **anti-banausic** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 7:04 pm

Sqook: Sorry to say this, but as a PhD epidemiology student, I think your comment is a little, well, unenlightened.

While a great deal has been made of the avian flu, H5N1, the possibility of its being able to spread like the common flu virus is really quite scary.

Many times in epidemiology, our jobs go rather unnoticed, because it is about prevention and not curing disease that is already in situ. The reason that it has become like "the sky is falling" is due to the desire to head it off before it becomes a problem, rather than after.

This particular strain has a much higher fatality rate than the common flu virus, and all it needs is the chance to co-infect a human that has the common flu and hybridize. It could actually be very bad for humanity.

So, keep these things in mind......

Cheers,
AB

claudek · Post by **claudek** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:15 pm

avian flu, H5N1 virus has been around along time..Not a new virus.
I would be more concerned of the normal flu or just driving in a car.

LOFA · Post by **LOFA** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:19 pm

anti-banausic wrote:Sqook: Sorry to say this, but as a PhD epidemiology student, I think your comment is a little, well, unenlightened.

While a great deal has been made of the avian flu, H5N1, the possibility of its being able to spread like the common flu virus is really quite scary.

Many times in epidemiology, our jobs go rather unnoticed, because it is about prevention and not curing disease that is already in situ. The reason that it has become like "the sky is falling" is due to the desire to head it off before it becomes a problem, rather than after.

This particular strain has a much higher fatality rate than the common flu virus, and all it needs is the chance to co-infect a human that has the common flu and hybridize. It could actually be very bad for humanity.

So, keep these things in mind......

Cheers,
AB

I am really appreciative of how clear you made that. I have some experience with biology (worked with some fluerescent tags, "filmed" some migration assays) yet I still haven't been able to completely make out what is going on, what with all of the paranoia, propaganda, and spin. If you know of any good links I would be very interested!

Last but not least- keep up the good work!

Left Eye Dominant · Post by **Left Eye Dominant** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:40 pm

claudek wrote:avian flu, H5N1 virus has been around along time..Not a new virus.
I would be more concerned of the normal flu or just driving in a car.

Doesn"t the fact that H5N1 has been around for a long time make it even more scary????? I live in Italy and since the virus made it into Sicily there is a bit of a panic on...... I have a terrace and four pigeons have lived there for years. Are pigeons wild birds? I am keeping the windows closed and my cat is housebound from now on in.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:54 pm

Left Eye Dominant wrote:Doesn"t the fact that H5N1 has been around for a long time make it even more scary?

Not to me, not at all - "this is the lethal flesh-eating spungwarbler - it has survived 7 million years in the undergrowth of a small park in Bromley, but it MAY STILL KILL YOU!

Also, this antique gun on my wall (fictional) has never ever killed anyone. Does that increase or decrease the likelihood that it *may* kill me at one point? No.

Now, my car (again, fictional) is another matter - I'm putting myself into it everyday thus prolonging exposure to cars and road-side trees that are (known to be!) deadly to humans.

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:08 pm

Also, this antique gun on my wall (fictional) has never ever killed anyone.
Does that increase or decrease the likelihood that it *may* kill me at one
point? No.

As time goes on the probability of a virus jumping species and becoming airborne approaches 1.

-Ben

kennerb · Post by **kennerb** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:17 am

Wow my thread has been hijacked and gone to the birds

anti-banausic · Post by **anti-banausic** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:50 am

Before going any further, the thing to remember is that this is all based on biology, probability, and history. What we all forget, because we can't remember are things like the Spanish flu. It may, in fact, never be avian flu that is the next outbreak, but it pays to be informed...at least that way, we can all make decisions based on information that is at least credible. As opposed to much of the information that is spread throughout the globe, at least in public health, we are trying to give the best possible information for humanity, not to line our own pockets. With all the other disinformation out there, we actually try to get the word out...though sometimes we may be wrong.

Can't point you to any real links, though I will try to do some research. This isn't really my area of expertise, but you can't get away from it if you are in public health at the moment.

sqook · Post by **sqook** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 1:30 am

anti-banausic wrote:Sqook: Sorry to say this, but as a PhD epidemiology student, I think your comment is a little, well, unenlightened.

While a great deal has been made of the avian flu, H5N1, the possibility of its being able to spread like the common flu virus is really quite scary.

Many times in epidemiology, our jobs go rather unnoticed, because it is about prevention and not curing disease that is already in situ. The reason that it has become like "the sky is falling" is due to the desire to head it off before it becomes a problem, rather than after.

This particular strain has a much higher fatality rate than the common flu virus, and all it needs is the chance to co-infect a human that has the common flu and hybridize. It could actually be very bad for humanity.

So, keep these things in mind......

Cheers,
AB

I can respect this viewpoint, but my opinion is based on the recent history of such epidemics, so you can see why I might be cynical. Consider mad cow disease, SARS, and the west nile virus, to name a few. In all three of these cases were viruses that were supposed to spread wildly and kill millions. The press jumped on all of them, and dozens of people died. I may have to eat my hat for saying this, but I will bet you dimes to dozens that in a year's time, we'll be able to safely file avian flu right in this list with the others. If 20 million people die, well, then feel free to bump this thread and mock me.

I'm not saying that these viruses aren't potentially deadly; I'm just saying that the hype behind them are totally unnecessary. Until a widespread epidemic develops, I think we should keep the news about them to the scientific press rather than the mainstream news. In the meantime, improved medical care, sanitary conditions, and knowledge about quarantine and the nature of virual infections let me sleep worry-free.