O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: junk

  • SpamSieve updated to 2.9.9

    spamsieve-icon

    SpamSieve’s about ready for Mavericks.

    Michael Tsai’s must-have shareware program, SpamSieve, has just been updated to version 2.9.9. The new version, a 10.8 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and changes:
    – SpamSieve is now compatible with the GM build of OS X 10.9 Mavericks. It is recommended that you update to SpamSieve 2.9.9 before installing Mavericks. If you’ve updated to Mavericks first, and you don’t see the SpamSieve commands in Apple Mail’s Message menu, be sure to choose Install Apple Mail Plug-In from the SpamSieve menu.

    – Made various changes to improve SpamSieve’s filtering accuracy.

    – Microsoft Outlook 2011’s notification sounds are now available in SpamSieve’s Notification preferences.

    – Added the Apple Mail – Server Junk Mailbox script. When it’s not possible to turn off a server-side junk filter (e.g., iCloud’s), this lets SpamSieve save you from mistakes that the server junk filter made by moving any messages that SpamSieve thinks are good back to the inbox. It will also consolidate the spam messages from all the accounts into a single spam mailbox (the same one where SpamSieve is already putting your spam).

    – Can now repair the ownership and permissions of the SpamSieve and Apple Mail preferences files if needed. This fixes problems where SpamSieve would lose its registration information or Apple Mail wouldn’t show the SpamSieve menu commands.

    – Fixed some problems where the Open Window command in Apple Mail was not available or did not always open the specified window.

    SpamSieve 2.9.9 retails for US$30.00 and requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later to install and run.

    If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback, please let us know in the comments.

  • SpamSieve updated to 2.9.7

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    No one ever slighted a useful update.

    Michael Tsai’s must-have shareware program, SpamSieve, has just been updated to version 2.9.7. The new version, a 10.8 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and changes:
    – Improved compatibility with pre-release versions of Mac OS X.

    – Made various changes to improve SpamSieve’s filtering accuracy.

    – SpamSieve no longer links against AppleScriptKit. This removes some GUI scripting functionality (which is now largely available by other means) but works around an OS bug that could prevent SpamSieve from launching.

    – Worked around a bug in Apple Mail’s iCloud rule syncing.

    – SpamSieve is better at moving trained messages when Outlook has lost track of the special Junk E-mail folder.

    – Fixed a problem where Apple Mail couldn’t communicate with SpamSieve when the file permissions were incorrect.

    – Fixed a bug where SpamSieve couldn’t load any addresses from Outlook if it reported an error while getting the e-mail address of a contact.

    – Fixed a bug editing counts in the Corpus window (due to suspected 64-bit OS bug).

    – Added more checks that the folders SpamSieve relies upon have the proper permissions.

    – Improved error reporting for Apple Mail, Growl, and more.

    – Improved handling of file permissions errors.

    – The Apple Mail drone script now sets the junk status.

    – Wrote a script that allows SpamSieve to filter messages (in Apple Mail) that have been organized by SaneBox.

    – Improved the Japanese localization.

    – SpamSieve now requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later.

    SpamSieve retails for US$30.00 and requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later to install and run.

    If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback, please let us know in the comments.

  • Trojan.SMSSend.3666 goes into the wild, poses as Mac OS X software

    You should listen to your more paranoid relatives around the holiday dinner table when they say that there’ll always be someone trying to run a scam on someone else.

    Just because they’re paranoid doesn’t make them wrong.

    Per CNET, Russian security firm Dr. Web has uncovered another malware attempt on OS X systems that tries to exploit users with SMS fraud.

    The new malware is a Trojan horse, dubbed “Trojan.SMSSend.3666,” and is part of a family of Trojan malware for Windows and other platforms that have affected Windows users for years.

    As with all Trojans, these pose as legitimate programs that are made available for download from a number of underground Web sites, with this current one for OS X appearing to be an installer for a program called VKMusic 4, a utility whose legitimate version is used for communication between machines on a European social network called VK.

    During its installation, the malware triggers an SMS fraud routine where it asks users to enter cell phone numbers, then sends them SMS messages to confirm, which then subscribes the users to a scam that charges high fees for junk messages being sent to their phones.

    Unlike recent malware targeted at OS X, this one is not a Java-based attempt to hack the system and install dropper programs that open backdoor access to the system. This one is built as a Mach-O binary that uses the OS X native runtime; however, this change does not alter the threat level significantly. Since the malware is distributed through underground means and requires specific user interaction both to install, and then subsequently and knowingly provide private information, it is a relatively minimal threat.

    However, despite its slight impact, it does add yet another instance to the relatively short list of malware for OS X as compared to those for Windows and other platforms.

    As with other recent malware for OS X, this one appears to be built specifically to fool those that use the European VK social network, as opposed to being a more widespread attempt, as was seen with the “MacDefender” malware.

    Apple’s current XProtect malware definitions have not yet been updated to identify this new scourge, but as it gets analyzed and identified by security firms, the definitions will spread out for various anti-malware utilities. However, overall the main security tips emphasized by this development are to first check where any installer for your system came from, and then be cautious about giving out personal information including phone numbers and addresses. This is especially true for any installer you downloaded from a site that is not directly from the developer itself.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.