« Google Group Spamvertising | Main | Sorry to Burst Your Bubble »

January 26, 2009

Reports are flowing in that a second pirated Mac software application has been "enhanced" to include malware capable of allowing Mac OS X computers to be pwned. Las week it was iWork '09. This week it's Adobe Photoshop CS4, a significantly more expensive program that is therefore welcomed by thieves (who probably wouldn't know the first thing about how to use it).

I'm hoping that this practice of Worse Guys (malware distributors) invading the space of Bad Guys (pirates) spreads like wildfire, including pirated Windows apps. If pirated software earns a widespread reputation of being laden with malware, the whole warez thing could collapse. Could it take the "OEM software" spam business with it? I mean products spammed in that fashion are nothing more than pirated free software for which suckers pay real money under the pretense of respectability.

I think the OEM software crooks should pick fights with both warez pirates and malware authors to keep their businesses intact. (I'm trying to start a gang war in the parking lot.)

On the other hand, teenagers and college kids who bathe themselves in pirated warez, have this innate sense of invincibility — "nothing can hurt my computer!" The more skulls and crossbones attached to a potentially computer-lethal concoction, the more likely they'll download, install, and be pwned.

[Sigh] What was I thinking?