On 03/10/2022 10:43, Snit wrote:
> On Oct 3, 2022 at 2:29:45 AM MST, "David Brooks" wrote
> <dYx_K.560968$wkZ5.322368@fx11.ams1>:
>
>> -------- Forwarded Message --------
>> Subject: Re: REPOSTING!
>> Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2022 10:06:09 +0100
>> From: David Brooks <BDB@not.on.your.life>
>> Newsgroups: alt.computer.workshop,uk.comp.sys.mac
>> References: <qjo_K.1334692$Eeb3.1322025@fx05.ams1>
>> <Bkp_K.494294$6Il8.168237@fx14.iad>
>>
>> On 03/10/2022 00:41, Snit wrote:
>>> On Oct 2, 2022 at 3:31:50 PM MST, "David Brooks" wrote
>>> <qjo_K.1334692$Eeb3.1322025@fx05.ams1>:
>>> ...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Cannot see where it hurts anything, but seems odd to me.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Odd, perhaps, but it feels good! 😂
>>>>>
>>>>> And that is what really matters -- are you happy with what you have.
>>>>
>>>> So far so good today! 😂
>>>
>>> That is what matters!
>>
>> Indeed! :-)
>>
>>>>> With me I have not done a fresh install since the Classic Mac
days... I
>>>>> upgrade in place. Did have one glitch doing so, years ago, but it
has been
>>>>> pretty flawless.
>>>>
>>>> Lucky you! 😄
>>>
>>> There is some luck, but Apple does good work.
>>
>> Agreed - I'll not be so tempted to simply 'try' things fom now on.
>
> I tend to be too open to it, even on the system I rely on. Only
rarely has it
> been an issue.
Apple is good with looking after the users of its products.
> My iPhone is being weird. Ended up calling Apple. Having an issue that is
> known internally but not one they are publicly speaking about. A
future update
> should resolve it.
Good luck with that!
>>>> How did you transfer all the data from your bricked iMac to your
Mac Mini?
>>>
>>> I had a Time Machine backup.
>>
>> Excellent. I'm pleased to learn that it worked.
>
> It did.. very well. Only challenge was I could not get my music
because I did
> not have the room.
Have you looked to see if it's in the iCloud?
>>>>>>>> *Can Malware Go Undetected? How Viruses Hide From You*
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If a malware developer knows that an antivirus will identify their
>>>> code,
>>>>>>>> they still have a few tactics up their sleeves to prevent
detection.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> One of them is a trick called “obfuscation.” This is when a
malware
>>>>>>>> developer cleverly hides their malicious code so an antivirus
>>>> won’t find
>>>>>>>> it. For example, they may deploy a program that automatically
encrypts
>>>>>>>> and decrypts the bad parts, or change the code of the virus itself
>>>> so it
>>>>>>>> looks different every time it infects someone.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> By changing how it looks, it keeps the antivirus on its toes. An
>>>>>>>> antivirus is looking for a specific "signature" that identifies a
>>>>>>>> specific strain of malware for what it is, so if the malware
developer
>>>>>>>> can hide this signature, it can dodge an antivirus scan better.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>
<https://www.makeuseof.com/can-malware-go-undetected-how-viruses-hide-from-you/>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> It gave me a little more practice with using Terminal.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Here's where things stood just before I hit 'return':-
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> <https://ibb.co/TY5xx8x>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The bonus, of course, is that I no longer have ANY of the tools
>>>> from The
>>>>>>>>>> Eclectic Light Company installed on my computer. 😂
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Not sure what your goal is.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> To be 100% sure that any malware present was removed from my
computer.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> A full wipe and reinstall does not show that 100%.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That's EXACTLY that the police told me way back in 2005!
>>>>>> I didn't believe them at first! One of the reasons I later bought an
>>>>>> Apple iMac!
>>>>>
>>>>> You can have your firmware modified... and more. It is not
common, but if you
>>>>> want to be 100% sure there is no real way to do that. The system
can COME with
>>>>> modified firmware.
>>>>
>>>> Absolutely correct!
>>>
>>> So your 100% goal is unachievable. :)
>>
>> Sadly, you are correct!
>>
>> I intend to buy my next Mac from directly from Apple.
>
> I always do... but I do not get the "stock" machines. I increase RAM and
> storage.

This machine I bought from https://uk.selectonline.com

It came with a three year guarantee.

>>>>>>>> How do YOU ensure that YOUR computer has not been compromised?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I take basic precautions and do not spend a lot of time worrying
>>>> about it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't WORRY about the malware at all - just the folk who
>>>> perpetrate it!
>>>>>
>>>>> I know they are out there... but I also know there are many bad
>>>> people out
>>>>> there. When I encounter them I deal with it (recently did on a hike
>>>> when I ran
>>>>> into a bad situation).
>>>>
>>>> I'm glad you were not harmed..
>>>>
>>>>>>> How do you know there is not someone breaking into your house when
>>>> you are
>>>>>>> gone and messing with things? It is not likely... but it COULD
happen!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've told you before, I trust in God to protect me! 😂
>>>>>
>>>>> Have you never had malware?
>>>>
>>>> I don't believe you've asked that after everything I've told you!
>>>
>>> OK, have you with the software you are concerned with?
>>
>> As far as I'm aware, I've not been troubled with malware on THIS iMac.
>>
>> But I no way of knowing or testing that - apart from running third party
>> Apps. This is what I found recently:- https://ibb.co/fDD0GMH
>
> Things in email that will likely not cause any issue.

That's what I think too.

>>>>>>>> This is another serious question!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I just do not spend much time worrying about it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Me neither! Trying to catch bad guys is fun! 🙂
>>>>>
>>>>> As long as you are doing it for fun... but understand that suggesting
>>>> someone
>>>>> seems like a bad guy based on what is likely a bad download is going
>>>> to push
>>>>> that developer away from you.
>>>>
>>>> You don't KNOW that it was "a bad download"!
>>>
>>> What other explanation is there?
>>
>> I asked you to discuss this as a question for Howard Oakley. You
declined.
>
> You already did discuss it with him and shared his views. Bad download /
> corrupt app.

Yes, that IS what he said.

>>>> That's simply what HO
>>>> *claimed*. I doubt anyone at all, anywhere, has *checked* what Mints
>>>> actually installs on a Mac.
>>>>
>>>> This is what the macOS showed:- <https://imgbb.com/X2kyxCM>
>>>> I'm happy to trust that reult.
>>>
>>> I have asked a couple times but not sure of the answer: did you get
an error
>>> when you tried to open it? If so what was the error?
>>
>> No error that I can recall.
>
> What made you look to that screen?
This <https://imgbb.com/X2kyxCM> was a Pop-up right in front of my eyes.
>> I have absolutely no idea what that software puts onto my computer nor
>> what it is /really/ designed to do.
>
> You have SOME idea... if you did not you would not install it.

I've been in the habit of testing/playing with all the tools he has
provided. Just for the experience of so doing.

>>>> For now I'll keep HO's tools OFF my machine.
>>>>
>>>> Thank you for experimenting with me, Snit. The problem YOU now have is
>>>> that when/if you try removing Mints and/or EtreCheck/ClamXav you will
>>>> never be certain that nothing malicious has been left behind.
>>>
>>> Nor with ANY software. Not sure why the focus would be on those two.
>>
>> Oops! THREE!
>>
>> Why? Because the product developers have not been open and honest
with me.
>> I have 'tested' you, Snit, in a myriad of ways yet not once have you
>> chosen to block me. We continue to communicate - that is so very
>> important, to me, anyway.
>
> You insinuated he has some nefarious goals. He broke ties.
Are you not just a little surprised by the sheer volume of the work he
does? A few week ago he said at the end of an article something along
the lines of "We will ... and The Team" and got quite irritated by me
asking him about that.
>>>> That's the REAL reason I wiped my hard disks.
>>>
>>> What do you think would happen if you did not. Not just that you
fear you
>>> would have malware... what do you think the malware might do? What
do you
>>> think others are facing?
>>
>> My concerns are twofold:-
>>
>> 1. Folk may get co-opted into a Botnet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botnet
>>
>> 2. Folk may be 'persuaded' to part with thier hard-earned money
>>
>> I hope these answers help.
>
> I have no reason to think either of those has ever happened do me.

I'm really pleased about that! :-)

--
David