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  4. Rogue:OSX/FakeMacDef.A

Rogue:OSX/FakeMacDef.A

Detection Names : Rogue:OSX/MacDefender.A
Rogue:OSX/FakeMacDef.A
Trojan-Downloader:OSX/FakeMacDef.A
Category:Malware
Type:Rogue
Platform:W32

Summary

Dishonest antivirus software which tricks users into buying or installing it, usually by infecting a user's computer, or by pretending the computer is infected.

Disinfection


Manual Removal Instructions

  1. 1. Open the Activity Monitor: Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor
  2. 2. In the Activity Monitor, select the MacDefender application, then click the "Quit Process" button:




  3. 3. Open Accounts from "System Preferences": Applications > System Preferences > Accounts
  4. 4. On the "Login Items" tab, select the MacDefender application, then click the minus (-) button:




  5. 5. Open Applications, then drag the MacDefender application to the Trash:






  6. 6. Open Trash in Finder, then select the action "Empty Trash":



Additional Details

MacDefender may also be called MacSecurity, MacProtector, MacGuard or MacShield.



Distribution

This rogue is being distributed via SEO-poisoned websites.

The user is then asked to download the installation package for a program (i.e., the rogue program) that will 'fix' the detected infection.



Installation

The rogue is installed in the Applications directory, as per normal Mac applications. It also adds its own menulet to the desktop menu bar.



Image 1: application icon used by the Mac Defender rogue

The rogue is also added to the Login Items for the user, so that it will automatically launch every time the user logs in.



Image 2: MacDefender added to Login Items during instsallation


Payload

The rogueware poses as a legitimate virus scanner, reporting bogus infections and occassionally opening pornographic websites to trick users into believing an infection is present on the computer.



Image 3: Dialog displayed when MacDefender is run on a (clean) test machine



Image 4: Notifications displayed during a 'scan'. Note the menulet in the menu bar

This maybe be a further tactic to push the user into paying money for the bogus application, or to steal the user's credit card information.



More

For more information about MacDefender, see the related Labs Weblog post: