Latest Threat to Hit Macs: 'Sabpab' Trojan

Malware spreading through dodgy Word document
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 17, 2012 6:25 AM CDT
Latest Threat to Hit Macs: 'Sabpab' Trojan
The virus displays a Word document "as a camouflage for the Trojan's true intentions," Sophos says.   (Sophos)

With popularity comes some nasty bugs for the unwary: A Trojan known as "Sabpab" is the latest piece of malware infesting Macs, according to security firm Sophos. The malware is spreading through a weakness in Java and through an infected Word document purporting to be a statement from the Dalai Lama, reports MSNBC. Like others of its kind, Sabpab enables hackers to steal personal information and send remote commands to computers.

The spread of Sabpab comes soon after warning about the "Flashback" malware believed to have infected up to 600,000 Macs. Experts say these kinds of attacks tend to come in waves, so there may be many more Mac viruses on the way. "Although there's no reason to believe that this attack is widespread, it's clearly time for some people to wake up to the reality of Mac malware," writes Greg Cluley at Sophos. "Mac users—please get an anti-virus, for goodness sake." (More computer virus stories.)

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