Log In to Multiple Macs Using Apple Remote Desktop

Here’s a script that may be used using Apple Remote Desktop to log in to multiple Macs. This is helpful if you need to log in on a Mac-based laboratory using a single user account.

osascript<<EndOfMyScript
tell application “System Events”
keystroke “<username>”
keystroke tab
delay 0.5
keystroke “<password>”
delay 0.5
keystroke return
end tell
EndOfMyScript

 

Mac OS and Malware Issues

Two new Mac OS malware variants have been discovered as soon as the FlashBack Trojan issue is staring to decline. Discovered by Kaspersky, they are versions of SabPub – an information-stealing Trojan.

Mac OS is starting to get it’s own share of malware attacks now that it has grabbed a big marketshare. But still, Apple continues the won’t-get-infected-by-virus  proposition about the OS. And this is one of the features that PC consumers are anticipating everytime they buy these machines/devices. And that they’re safe from malwares without anything to be done.

Yes it won't get infected by Windows-based viruses.

It’s misleading. Macs won’t really get infected by malwares/viruses that are Windows-based. But they may get infected by those that are made for Macs. Even if those malwares attack third-party softwares (Java, Flash, etc.), it’s just inevitable to install them because they are part of everyday browsing and other computer tasks. Once they’re infected, Mac users would also be exposed to what their Windows counterparts are experiencing, e.g. stolen credentials and the like.

Apple should start educating its consumers about computer security on Macs. There’s nothing wrong on telling your users to install an anti-virus or that they should be extra careful when browsing the web. They should stop this misleading information about a virus-free Mac OS.

Flashback Trojan Removal

It was reported that more than 650,000 Mac OS X computers were infected by the Flashback Trojan. For now, it only conducts a click fraud scam that takes control of users’ search results in their browsers. But according to this report, it can steal banking and other login credentials.

Flashback Trojan disguises itself as a Flash installer. If you are prompted to install Flash which looks like the image below, abort the installation by clicking the X button on the upper left corner of the window.

If you want to check if your machine is infected, download the removal tool (FlashbackRemoval.zip) from F-Secure. Unzip the file after downloading and double click the unzipped script. You will be asked to accept the license agreement.

If traces of the trojan are found, it will start the clean up process. But if your system is clean, you will be prompted by this:

Apple has already released an update which has an integrated tool for removing the trojan. Always keep your Macs updated. Here’s the screenshot of the update: