Re: spinning beach ball of death

From	Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com>
Newsgroups	comp.sys.mac.system
Subject	Re: spinning beach ball of death
Date	2015-09-03 01:10 +0000
Organization	People for the Ethical Treatment of Pirates
Message-ID	<d4pl05FptjbU2@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References	<mrrcqv$tgu$1@news.albasani.net> <ms7uve$v6t$1@news.albasani.net> <1ma6agj.zj3xxx1cxwkteN%dempson@actrix.gen.nz>

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On 2015-09-03, David Empson <dempson@actrix.gen.nz> wrote:
> Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> wrote:
>
>> If this was a Windows machine, I'd be on top of it with Malwarebytes and
>> AV software.  She has a version of AVG installed, not sure which one,
>> that is running on a trial basis.  But the trial expires in 2 days.  I
>> suggested she remove AVG and install either Avira Free or Avast Free 
>> (personal preferences for me), that way we can see if the new software
>> finds something AVG did not.
>
> AVG or other antivirus software might be CAUSING the beachballs, e.g. if
> it stalls the computer while it examines a file being opened, or if it
> causes performance issues while checking for or fetching its updates.
>
> Uninstalling it would be a useful test.

Yep, glad someone thought to mention this. Anti-virus software for OS X
is notoriously badly-behaved and buggy. It's more of a gimmick than
useful, and very often causes more problems than it solves.

For OS X, it's next to useless, as these articles show:

<http://www.reedcorner.net/mac-av-detection-rates/>
<http://www.thesafemac.com/mac-anti-virus-testing-01-2013/>

>> My question is, can malware of this type be installed on a Mac? 
>
> Not really. There has been practically nothing in the way of worms or
> similar automatically installed malware on Mac OS X. The main risk is in
> the realm of trojan horses, where something malicious tricks you into
> installing and running it.
>
> In theory, there could be some kinds of drive-by attacks through vectors
> such as insecure Java or Flash plugins for web browsers, but keeping
> software updated usually prevents that.
>
> Those running outdated OS versions, web browsers, etc. are more likely
> to be at risk due to known security issues, but then we get into
> security by obscurity territory: a small portion of an already small
> portion of the installed base is not likely to be worth making a big
> effort to attack.

Yes.

>> I've never seen the subject discussed, too new to this newsgroup
>> possibly, but I've seen a lot of people say they don't use AV software
>> either. And I've seen Windows users on Usenet that don't run AV software
>> either.
>
> I've never run AV software regularly on my Macs. Once or twice I've
> installed some and done a one-off pass to check that I hadn't picked up
> anything. It only found a few old email attachments (which were Windows
> malware anyway), and an inert copy I had deliberately kept of one piece
> of Mac-specific malware that had infected the Mac of someone I know (one
> of the variants of the so-called "Flashback" malware from around 2011 or
> 2012).

Before OS X, when I used classic Mac OS, I ran Disinfectant from time to
time on some of my machines, because those machines were exposed to
floppy & Zip disks that would sometimes be used at the local Kinkos. I
started doing that after discovering an INIT virus on one of them.

After OS X, like you, I have never run anti-virus software regularly.
There's simply no need for it.

-- 
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

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spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-28 22:35 -0600
  Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-29 17:25 +1200
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:10 -0600
  Re: spinning beach ball of death Leonard Blaisdell <leoblaisdell@sbcglobal.net> - 2015-08-28 22:49 -0700
    Re: spinning beach ball of death dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com> - 2015-08-29 16:09 +1000
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-29 18:55 +1200
        Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 07:35 -0400
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:56 -0600
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2015-08-29 17:46 +0000
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 14:17 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-30 12:44 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 20:44 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-30 02:00 +0000
            Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 14:17 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 22:47 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2015-08-29 22:04 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 01:10 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2015-08-30 03:17 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2015-08-30 15:09 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 01:07 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 11:07 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 13:18 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-30 15:18 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 15:32 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-30 15:51 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 16:01 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-30 20:50 -0400
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-30 10:17 +1200
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 18:17 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 22:32 +0000
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:41 -0600
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-08-30 10:12 +1200
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 09:36 -0600
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Michael Vilain <vilain@NOspamcop.net> - 2015-08-30 22:57 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-31 15:09 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-31 10:00 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-31 09:50 -0600
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 11:02 -0600
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:12 -0600
      Re: spinning beach ball of death David Fritzinger <email@domain.com> - 2015-08-29 11:23 -0400
  Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 07:35 -0400
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-29 09:52 -0600
      Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 14:17 -0400
        Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-29 14:23 -0400
          Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 14:31 -0400
            Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-08-29 14:53 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 15:06 -0400
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 19:38 +0000
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2015-08-29 21:47 +0000
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 11:11 -0600
          Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-30 13:18 -0400
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-30 23:05 -0600
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-31 11:53 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-08-31 10:18 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-31 12:29 -0400
  Re: spinning beach ball of death J Burns <burns4@nowhere.com> - 2015-08-29 18:26 -0400
    Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-08-29 18:29 -0400
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 22:43 +0000
        Re: spinning beach ball of death J Burns <burns4@nowhere.com> - 2015-08-29 19:43 -0400
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 22:41 +0000
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-08-29 22:45 +0000
  Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 16:58 -0600
    Re: spinning beach ball of death Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> - 2015-09-02 16:25 -0700
      Re: spinning beach ball of death J Burns <burns4@nowhere.com> - 2015-09-02 19:55 -0400
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 18:14 -0600
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:14 -0600
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-03 13:15 +1200
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 19:48 -0600
    Re: spinning beach ball of death dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2015-09-03 12:48 +1200
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 01:10 +0000
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:12 -0600
        Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-02 22:22 -0400
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:27 -0600
            Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-02 22:32 -0400
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:37 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-02 22:48 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 21:58 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-09-03 02:01 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:18 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michael Vilain <vilain@NOspamcop.net> - 2015-09-04 18:27 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2015-09-02 19:55 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 21:53 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 04:03 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:41 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-04 03:36 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 04:01 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:43 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-04 03:44 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-03 16:15 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:47 -0600
            Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 03:59 +0000
              Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-03 00:01 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 04:04 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Fred Moore <fmoore@gcfn.org> - 2015-09-03 12:21 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 16:55 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Fred Moore <fmoore@gcfn.org> - 2015-09-03 14:35 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death David Ritz <dritz@mindspring.com> - 2015-09-03 21:26 -0500
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-04 08:52 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 21:11 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-03 23:49 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:50 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-03 23:49 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-04 09:45 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-04 15:56 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-04 13:00 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Tim Streater <timstreater@greenbee.net> - 2015-09-04 22:44 +0100
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-04 17:13 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-05 12:10 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Tim Streater <timstreater@greenbee.net> - 2015-09-05 08:29 +0100
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-05 15:04 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Michael Vilain <vilain@NOspamcop.net> - 2015-09-05 11:03 -0700
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-06 02:34 +0000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com> - 2015-09-05 10:09 +1000
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-04 18:23 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com> - 2015-09-05 10:33 +1000
              Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-03 20:48 -0600
                Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-03 23:49 -0400
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> - 2015-09-04 18:20 +1200
                Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-04 09:21 -0600
          Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 03:58 +0000
        Re: spinning beach ball of death Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2015-09-03 03:57 +0000
    Re: spinning beach ball of death JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> - 2015-09-02 21:35 -0400
      Re: spinning beach ball of death Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2015-09-02 20:24 -0600
    Re: spinning beach ball of death nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2015-09-02 22:22 -0400

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