[MasterDragonfly]

Among the various machines here, we've got a 24" iMac, and the video crapped out slightly more than a year after we bought it.

Dejected, and not looking forward to the big repair bill, I brought it to the local Apple store.  That's when I found out (was reminded?) that I DID actually originally pay for the extended warranty.  Go me! 

Total cost, including parts and labour:  $0.00.

[TheZookie007]

"Apple Brings An End To Its 'Get A Mac' Microsoft Slamming Ads"

[TheZookie007]

Yahoo! Tech: "Apple's MacBook Pro line gets new Intel processors, price tweaks"

Check 'em all out here.

[TheZookie007]

Run! Run for the hills!

NetworkWorld: "New malware can take control of Macs, Intego warns"

Batten down the hatches! Better yet, unplug your Mac and run for the hills! Intego, purveyor of internet security and privacy software for the Mac, reports that a new variant of malware--the intimidatingly-named HellRTS--has been spotted in the vast untamed reaches of the Internet.

...or, maybe not:

But before you panic, let's take stock of the facts. First, there certainly is bad news. Intego says that HellRTS--which was first discovered in 2004--recently received some nefarious upgrades: The malicious software can now open a "backdoor" to your Mac by setting up its own server on a private port, complete with a password. The software duplicates and changes its name, identifying itself as other genuine Mac software (like "iPhoto"), making it even harder to spot. The new HellRTS variant can contact remote servers, and then, Intego says, "provide direct access to [the] infected Mac."

But here's the good news: I just saved a bunch of money on car insurance. The HellRTS.D variant isn't out in the wild; you can only be infected if you install the rogue software. Obviously, Trojan horse-style trickery could do the trick, but there are no reports that any such Trojans exist just yet. To date, the malware is merely being exchanged on forums frequented by technological evildoers (and the virus-protection software researchers who battle them).

How can you stay safe? Turn off "Open 'safe' files after downloading" in Safari's preferences, and only launch or install apps from trusted sources. Or, of course, as Intego's press release about HellRTS.D suggests, you could purchase Intego VirusBarrier X6, which can detect and scrub the nasty fellow.

In summary: looks like a theoretical threat at best.

[gonZo]

In further summary: Intego wants to sell a few copies of VirusBarrier X6.

[TheZookie007]

Yup! What better way to sell a product than to create a demand for the product in the first place

[Chestnuts]

Or to unleash it themselves.


Like employees of a store that sells tires throwing nails on the road.

[TheZookie007]

Exactly

Meanwhile:

Ars Technica: "Why the 13" MacBook Pro didn't get a Core i5 upgrade"

[TheZookie007]

so a bigger monitor qualifies for FTW?

I must have missed something when they told everyone that you don't need a good videocard in your ftw-machine

So does that mean that these guys are talking out of their asses or what?:

YouTube: "The new Apple 27-inch iMac"

[TheZookie007]

CNET's "The Apple Byte": "The New MacBook Pros"

[TheZookie007]

Digital Trends: "Apple causes 'religious' reaction in brains of fans, say neuroscientists"

...but since they only scanned the brain of one admitted Apple fanatic, this causes an incredulous reaction in the brain of anyone with half a brain

[pedonbio]

I can only say:

Pal, repent before it is too late!

[Palomine]

It's very very rare, but even Macs get infected once in a while: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/apple-operating-system-targeted-by-malware/?emc=eta1 ...happened to a friend of mine and we were both surprised.

[TheZookie007]

Now that the baddies have finished fucking around with Sony's Playstation Network, maybe now they can pay more attention to fucking around with Mac OS X systems

The Oatmeal: "What it's like to own an Apple product"

[TheZookie007]

If you thought the Mac Defender malware stuff was bad, check this out:

CNET: "Updated rogue AV installs on Macs without password"

Yikes!