Security breach - Coincidence or possibility?
 

So I signed up yesterday and downloaded the LimeWire on my Mac. Tried a few dl's last night and everything seemed to work fine. I shut down the program but left the computer on as I usually do and today, my debit card is being scammed in NYC to the tune of about $1000. I'm nt so worried about the $$, I know I'll get that back but I can't help but wonder if this was a direct result from connecting to the network? Is this really safe? Can others hack their way into my computer and access my files or is this just a coincidence?:confused:

coincidence, AFAIK

There are some very misleading sites that scam people as you know from reading this sticky http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...threadid=28751

Maybe you've run across a new one that is really malicious. If so, check the exact address you used to pay for LimeWire (which is Free from the official site), and please add your warning to the thread.

Mac Users
 

KaiserChief

Sorry you got hacked but you have shown that MAC users are just as vulnerable to attacks as us PC users.

You know, for years (or loads of months) MAC forum members have been telling us PC users how safe their machines are and that they don't have to take the same precautions or be as careful as PC users using the internet or P2P network. Sadly, your experience has now proved them wrong.

Please note, I am not "wallowing in your misery" or gloating in anyway, you have shown that no one, whether they are MAC, PC or any other type of computer user, is safe on the internet.

Finally, as most PC users know, no public network (internet, P2P, etc) is safe, they are all open to some sort of attack. And that is why we (PC users) use all sorts of protection software to guard our machines.




UK Bob

Still not sure - the bank says that the charges started occurring prior to the 3rd but didn't show up until then. That - and I have had my computer for such a short period of time that I haven't made vey many transactions of any kind yet. In fact, the only transactions I have made were for itunes and paypal and both were previously set up accounts so I have not typed my account number anywhere on my new computer yet.

I just wondered if it is possible for someone to gain access to my entire computer while connected to a p2p network?

and I didn't pay for lime wire either!

KaiserChief

I don't think you have read or understood my previous post, you asked the following:

Quote:

I just wondered if it is possible for someone to gain access to my entire computer while connected to a p2p network?

The simple answer is a resounding "YES" if your machine is unprotected and someone has manage to plant a Trojan on it. In fact, it does not matter if you are on the Internet or P2P network your compromised MAC will always leak information until you get it cleaned up.



UK Bob

Actually - I don't believe that it has anything to do with the compromised security of the Mac. In over 13 years of using Macs I have never once had an infection, virus, or any sort of trojan infect my computers. This isn't to say that a p2p network couldn't allow someone access to my hard drive, and that was the issue that I wanted to clarify, but no one has ever discovered a virus infecting the Mac system. It's just a fact that they are safer in that regard.

And this is said not to disparage the PC or open the PC vs Mac floodgates of emotion that runs so high in some folks, but just to wonder if simply signing on to limewire (or any p2p) allows unrestricted access to malicious individuals or are there restrictions built into the sw that should prevent this from happening?

Kaiser Chief

There's always a possibility that your Mac's security has been breached, but unless your credit card is one you keep exclusively for Internet use, it is just as likely that a waiter at a restaurant or an attndant at a fuel station could have appropriated your details.

Similarly .. A security breach at iTunes or pay-pal could be the culprit. unlikely ... so is a security problem in your Mac.

I have heard also that Firefox on Mac has a couple of security problems. For my part I use Opera or Safari on a Mac and whilst it does not make me bullet proof, it makes me a lor happier than when I had some Norton thing totally b****ing up my computer.

Bob said "Sorry you got hacked but you have shown that MAC users are just as vulnerable to attacks as us PC users."

I'm not sure Bob, that it has been proved that the Chief was hacked

MACs
 

Dear Hobo

I have re-read what KaiserChief said and you are right, he has not said his MAC was hacked, he was just wondering if it could be.

However, MAC or PC, I still believe that any computer connected to the internet, including P2P and any other public network, without adequate protection is vulnerable to hacking or having something like a Trojan or worm planted on it.

KaiserChief

In answer to your clarified question, LW does not give P2P users unlimited access to your hard drive, they can only access your shared folder.

You can double check this by going into Options and examining your LWs default settings.

However, as you know, if you accidentally downloaded a trojan or virus, specifically crafted to compromise your MACs security, then your HD will be exposed.



UK Bob