If theres one silver lining to the cloud cast over Mac users by the recent revelation that the Flashfake Trojan has infected over 500,000 Macs worldwide, its surely the end to the myth that Macs are invulnerable to viruses and other malware. Seasoned Mac users will have never claimed anything different, but now theres no excuse for any Mac users to run without protection of some form or other.
Of course, before you can bolt the barn door, you need to make sure no horses have escaped, which is where Kasperskys free Flashfake Removal Tool comes in. As the name implies, its designed to remove any specific Flashfake infection from your Mac itll quickly scan for infection, inform you of the result and then take steps if necessary to nullify the infection.
The whole Flashfake furore came about because of a vulnerability in the Java programming language, which was exploited by hackers to great effect after OS X was left unprotected for over a month after the original hole had been patched by Oracle, Javas developer. Thats because Apple relies on its own update mechanism, which wasnt acted on until recently.
Once youve verified or cleaned your Mac, you need to make sure the patch is closed: fire up System Update and youll see the Java for OS X 2012-02 v1.0 patch waiting for you. Once installed, you should be safe from Flashfake.
Whether or not the Flashfake Removal Tool detected an infection or not, now is the time to add anti-virus protection to your Mac if none is currently installed. You dont have to pay a penny either, with both Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition and Avira Free Mac Security 1.0 providing protection against malware for free.
Kaspersky Flashfake Removal Tool is a freeware download for Mac users running OS X. Take our advice and run it as the first step towards keeping your Mac free from nasties.
As we stated earlier, Adapter is also available for Windows users, although its development seems to have stalled (the current version is 1.0.30). Since that release, the Mac version has evolved a brand new interface, plus improved conversion filters and added support for a wider range of devices. One reason to download it sooner rather than later, however, is this line from the programs FAQ: How much does Adapter cost? Adapter is free for a limited time.
There are also some other great antivirus programs on Brothersoft, let's check them out:
Symantec Backup Exec Small Business Edition 2012
For the busy business, Symantec Backup Exec Small Business Edition replaces confusion with confidence, offering complete data Protection set-up in less than 10 minutes through three simple Steps. In one simple yet comprehensive package proven in millions of installations worldwide, you get a total solution for Data Backup, system Restoration and disaster recovery. You can free download Symantec Backup Exec Small Business Edition 2012 now.
Norton AntiVirus Virus Definition
As new threats emerge, Symantec immediately builds new protection updates and makes them available for download on a subscription basis. If your subscription has expired, click here. The Norton AntiVirus engine is common to the Norton AntiVirus, Norton Internet Security, and Norton 360 products, you can free download Norton AntiVirus Virus Definition 04/18/2012 now.
Avast! Internet Security 7.0.1426
avast! Internet Security provides complete antivirus, anti-spyware, AntiSpam, and firewall protection, complemented now by new avast! SafeZone technology. It creates an isolated virtual desktop, invisible to any possible Attacker, where you can do your online shopping and banking securely. avast! SafeZone opens a new (clean) desktop so that other programs dont see whats happening and it leaves no History once its closed. You can free download Avast! Internet Security 7.0.1426 now.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 12.0.0.374
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 is the backbone of your PCs security system, delivering real-time protection from the latest malware and viruses. It works behind the scenes with intelligent scanning and small, frequent updates, while proactively protecting you from known and emerging Internet threats. Enjoy essential protection that wont slow you down with Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012!
From Brothersoft
Of course, before you can bolt the barn door, you need to make sure no horses have escaped, which is where Kasperskys free Flashfake Removal Tool comes in. As the name implies, its designed to remove any specific Flashfake infection from your Mac itll quickly scan for infection, inform you of the result and then take steps if necessary to nullify the infection.
The whole Flashfake furore came about because of a vulnerability in the Java programming language, which was exploited by hackers to great effect after OS X was left unprotected for over a month after the original hole had been patched by Oracle, Javas developer. Thats because Apple relies on its own update mechanism, which wasnt acted on until recently.
Once youve verified or cleaned your Mac, you need to make sure the patch is closed: fire up System Update and youll see the Java for OS X 2012-02 v1.0 patch waiting for you. Once installed, you should be safe from Flashfake.
Whether or not the Flashfake Removal Tool detected an infection or not, now is the time to add anti-virus protection to your Mac if none is currently installed. You dont have to pay a penny either, with both Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition and Avira Free Mac Security 1.0 providing protection against malware for free.
Kaspersky Flashfake Removal Tool is a freeware download for Mac users running OS X. Take our advice and run it as the first step towards keeping your Mac free from nasties.
As we stated earlier, Adapter is also available for Windows users, although its development seems to have stalled (the current version is 1.0.30). Since that release, the Mac version has evolved a brand new interface, plus improved conversion filters and added support for a wider range of devices. One reason to download it sooner rather than later, however, is this line from the programs FAQ: How much does Adapter cost? Adapter is free for a limited time.
There are also some other great antivirus programs on Brothersoft, let's check them out:
Symantec Backup Exec Small Business Edition 2012
For the busy business, Symantec Backup Exec Small Business Edition replaces confusion with confidence, offering complete data Protection set-up in less than 10 minutes through three simple Steps. In one simple yet comprehensive package proven in millions of installations worldwide, you get a total solution for Data Backup, system Restoration and disaster recovery. You can free download Symantec Backup Exec Small Business Edition 2012 now.
Norton AntiVirus Virus Definition
As new threats emerge, Symantec immediately builds new protection updates and makes them available for download on a subscription basis. If your subscription has expired, click here. The Norton AntiVirus engine is common to the Norton AntiVirus, Norton Internet Security, and Norton 360 products, you can free download Norton AntiVirus Virus Definition 04/18/2012 now.
Avast! Internet Security 7.0.1426
avast! Internet Security provides complete antivirus, anti-spyware, AntiSpam, and firewall protection, complemented now by new avast! SafeZone technology. It creates an isolated virtual desktop, invisible to any possible Attacker, where you can do your online shopping and banking securely. avast! SafeZone opens a new (clean) desktop so that other programs dont see whats happening and it leaves no History once its closed. You can free download Avast! Internet Security 7.0.1426 now.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 12.0.0.374
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 is the backbone of your PCs security system, delivering real-time protection from the latest malware and viruses. It works behind the scenes with intelligent scanning and small, frequent updates, while proactively protecting you from known and emerging Internet threats. Enjoy essential protection that wont slow you down with Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012!
From Brothersoft