Are Macs susceptible to "browser parasites"?
If they are, then what spyware cleanup tools are available to get rid of
the popup on a Mac?
--
http://homepage.mac.com/mkatzman/

In article <Srhsd.366$HR4.346@trndny03>,
Marshall <notmkatzman@verizon.net> wrote:

> Are Macs susceptible to "browser parasites"?
> If they are, then what spyware cleanup tools are available to get rid of
> the popup on a Mac?

It is not an issue, at least not at this time. Spyware is specific to
only Windows users right now.

Marshall <notmkatzman@verizon.net> writes:
>
> Are Macs susceptible to "browser parasites"?

It's theoretically possible, but so far I know of no actual examples
on the internet today.

> If they are, then what spyware cleanup tools are available to get
> rid of the popup on a Mac?

I don't know of any tools, but so far they are not necessary.

If you're just interested in suppressing popup windows from web pages
(which is _NOT_ the same as spyware), there are a lot of web browsers
that offer this.

In Safari, there's an option on the menu bar. In Mozilla and
Firefox, look in the preferences dialog.

-- David

Marshall wrote:

> Are Macs susceptible to "browser parasites"?
> If they are, then what spyware cleanup tools are available to get rid of
> the popup on a Mac?

Are you referring to web page pop-up windows?
Those are javascript function in the web page code, and can be ignored
(not displayed) by any good web browser, (Mozilla, Safari, iCab, etc).
What operating system you use, be it Mac, Windows, or Linux, is irrelevant.
GW

Shawn Hearn wrote:

> In article <Srhsd.366$HR4.346@trndny03>,
> Marshall <notmkatzman@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> > Are Macs susceptible to "browser parasites"?
> > If they are, then what spyware cleanup tools are available to get
> > rid of the popup on a Mac?
>
> It is not an issue, at least not at this time. Spyware is specific to
> only Windows users right now.

Spyware is an issue, spyware is not specific to only Windows uses, its
just that most Mac/Linux/BSD/etc. users either (1) don't use their
machines enough to download software that has spyware inside/attached,
or (2) are smart enough not to download software that has spyware
inside/attached.

Browser 'parasites' aren't really an issue, but some malicious
javascript code could change your homepage (depending upon your
browser) to some annoying page with popups.

So you know: I am a PC user primarily [both Windows and Linux, Windows
more only because I have some software that won't run in WINE/Cedega
and because I am tired of resetting my ndiswrapper once a week], I only
use Macs at school and at my friends' houses [and on the odd occassion
that I need repair someone else's], and I have gotten a total of 0
[ZERO] pieces of spyware/adware/malicious add-ins/browser hijack
attempts in the past 7 months [this machine's age]. The USER(s)
contribute(s) largely to the security of any system.

On 12/4/04 6:45 AM, in article Srhsd.366$HR4.346@trndny03, "Marshall"
<notmkatzman@verizon.net> wrote:

> Are Macs susceptible to "browser parasites"?
> If they are, then what spyware cleanup tools are available to get rid of
> the popup on a Mac?

Browser parasites (e.g. spyware) and pop-up ads are two different things.
You can get rid of pop-ups by flipping a switch in most modern Mac browsers,
including Safari and Firefox.

As far as I know, there aren't any Spyware programs that work on OS X--that
is not to say it is impossible, it just hasn't happened yet.

- Mike

In article <BE397B38.FE28%mpender********.com>,
"M. Pender" <mpender********.com> wrote:

> As far as I know, there aren't any Spyware programs that work on OS X--that
> is not to say it is impossible, it just hasn't happened yet.

How about cookies? Technically speaking they are spywear of sorts....
of course most of us intelligent Mac users ;-) know how to get them gone.

--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918