12 Comments

Mac Hack?

February 15, 2006 by in Apple,Tech with 12 Comments

Hackers broke into the computer system of the University of Arizona journalism department, and students were unable to use the computers Monday.

All of the department’s Apple Macintosh computers were affected and have been logged off the server and the Internet until the problem is solved, said Jacqueline Sharkey, head of the department.

Could this be the first report of a mass hacking incident, happening on a Mac? Also raises the question of what happens when the first mass virus spreads for the Mac – we have no protection!

Read More


  • http://beszeljukmac.com dombi

    Well, we have no protection, because so far we have no viruses. As soon as there is a virus, things will change. There are “probably” quite a few security holes in Mac OS X, like in most other systems. It is just a matter of someone finding them and useing them to attack.

    It is possible that UofA security department made a boo-boo somewhere and left something open. The article says nothing about how they got in except that they tried and tried. Maybe they tried login/password combos and they finally got it… that can happen to pretty much any desktop system.

  • joe

    they just found the password after time and time ,maybe luck or persistence but trying a password can happen on any desktop, even then a virus wouldnt affect the computers once there in, maybe rerouter the internet and shutting off the computers but the mac i would say are still safe..

  • http://www.mgroves.com boohiss

    Why bother writing a Mac virus? You’re only going to affect like 8 computers.

  • kidce

    who the fuck would waist their time trying to make a virus for macs??? what would you do currupt some meida software?
    Yeah you’ll get a little money but being the first to fuck up a mac would be like being the first to piss on the moon… who gives a shit

  • FernyB

    Why even have an Anti Virus?
    As a Mac user myself I dont have anti virus I can care less.
    When I was a windows user I didn’t have a Anti-Virus,
    I think most poeple think they will not be infected if they have an anti-virus but people
    still get infected. It the retards who need anti-virus not people who know what they are doing. Although they are good if maybe you receive a file that might be suspicious.
    but never have the anti-virus on 24/7 just have it to insprect packages you would like to test for.

  • FerrnyB

    Oh yeah dont ever run as root, only on a limited account.

  • alex cd

    Stick that Mac users!, untouchables, yeah right!

  • tom

    Just found out it wasnt mac it was pc.s!!!hehehhe

  • FernyB

    Now that I read the actual article it doesn’t how they were attacked.
    Maybe someone from the inside was responsible. and if that is the case
    it would be way easier to do something malicious. as oppose to trying to do it over the net.

  • alex cd

    The main occurance of virus or spyware infection is due to end user incompetence or misguidance, in my opinion. I have several customers a week that require reliable OS’s and do not heed warnings about infection from attachments, browsing and P2P or ‘FREE’ Applications. Well informed users will go to reasonable lenghts for protection eg a Softwall or Configurable firewall router, and use sacrificial terminals to download high risk software. It is typical home users that want minimal cost and ease of use that have the problems and end up paying more money out in the long run. I dont mind as i make profit from this!

  • http://www.digitalcypher.com pheen

    getting “hacked” != getting a virus. Any system can be hacked into with either brute force, social engineering, or pure luck. All it takes is an open port and a password.

  • yog sosoth

    Social engineering it was. His daughter had her password sniffed and had a SSH account on Dad’s Mac. No exploit, just bad security.

Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us | Write for us