January 15th, 2008
Just in time for Macworld: A rogue application dubbed MacSweeper
F-Secure claims to have discovered the first Mac rogue application–MacSweeper.
According to F-Secure, MacSweeper is spyware that closely resembles its Windows cousin Cleanator. Here’s how it works:
You install MacSweeper and it proceeds to “clean” your Mac of compromising files. This spyware is so diligent that it ALWAYS finds something to clean. All you have to do is buy the software.
Here’s a screen of this spyware debacle courtesy of F-Secure.
And to make itself look legit, MacSweeper cuts and pastes its description from security vendors like Symantec. These bogus programs aren’t anything new, but the fact that one has surfaced on the Mac indicates that Apple’s market share has been on a tear.
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
| 01/15/08
