Verbalism Personified

Go ahead, click on it!

This week, PC users were treated to another virus called
Wallon. It deletes Windows Media Player when the program is launched before spreading itself via e-mail from the infected PC. As opposed to a file attachment, this virus is propagated via a link in an e-mail.

In addition, it was reported that a Mac User had his Home directory wiped out when he double clicked on a bogus MS Word 2004 demo. He had downloaded the disguised 108KB AppleScript, based upon the Concept Trojan Horse highlighted earlier this month, from a Peer-to-Peer network.

For Windows Users, Wallon is another virus among thousands waiting to chance upon a hapless user. The manner in which it is propagated is interesting. As opposed to the traditional attachment containing executable code, Wallon arrives innocuously via e-mail with a bogus weblink. The perpetrator is counting on people, disinclined to opening attachments after a rude ‘education’ by the Netsky and Sasser worms, to be less suspicious of web links. Clinking on the link would lead to downloading and executing the Wallon code from a remote site.

Naturally Mac Users scoff again, dismissing virus infestation as a Windows phenomenon. However given the rising profile of OS X, and UNIX in general, security experts caution that this may make it a more attractive target to hackers.

This warning could not have been timely as someone took the initiative and unleashed reality onto the Internet. One can reason that this bogus MS Word demo would make users of pirated software think again. And even though this Trojan Horse does not self-replicate, it is cold comfort to the poor bastard who had lost his Home directory.

Lesson learned or not, Mac Users can no longer assume that this sort of thing only happens to the other guy. Even Apple has acknowledged that no operating system is completely secure. Human tendencies and social engineering mean the difference between a functional or disruptive computing experience.

With the advent of the Internet, this is the proverbial loss-of-innocence where the days of thoughtless double-clicking on links and applications are over. There are some Mac Users who dismiss anti-viral protection measures as frivolous. However, it is the opinion of this writer that this may soon change as well.

posted by Teutoburg @ 1:44 PM