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Lame Mac Trojan limps into view

Date: 11/19/2008

Malware targets grumble-flick fans: Security researchers have uncovered a rare example of a Trojan that affects Mac PCs.

Lamzev-A creates a backdoor on compromised Mac OS-X systems. The malware typically disguises itself as video codec on dodgy websites. Mac users hoping to watch a clip from a grumble flick get infected instead, a trick carried out by the earlier RSPlug Mac Trojan.

Few have fallen for the bait. The malware is notable as a rare example of a malicious agent capable of infecting Apple systems rather than any threat that it poses, which is minimal. Previous examples of malware able infect Mac systems have included an Apple-variant of a scareware (fake anti-spyware) package and a Trojan, DNsChan-A, that detected whether it was attempting to infect either Windows or Mac systems before running the appropriate infection routine.