Troika creates (mostly) harmless "Newton" Mac OSX virus
By Jonathan Schlaffer
How would you like a virus that doesn’t delete files? Doesn’t mail itself to your friends and only strikes once at random? If that sounds like something you’re into, here is the Newton virus for Mac OSX. The virus comes on a plug and play USB stick and automatically downloads itself to a MacBook (or any Mac, I suppose) when inserted.
Since it doesn’t delete files, doesn’t mail itself out or propagate in any way, what does it do? Well, a video of the virus in action can probably explain it better than I can but that’s not going to stop me from trying.
The Newton Virus causes the menu bar and icons to “fall” to the bottom of the screen. It makes use of the MacBook’s tilt sensor to cause the icons and menu bar to slide across the screen (if you tilt the MacBook). It’s not clear if it can be removed once it has infected the unsuspecting laptop but I sure hope so. Even if it can’t, a restore operation could take care of that.
From the developer,
The virus will then hit at random, but only once. It will not replicate itself, mail itself to your friends or destroy any of your files, but instead provides you with moments of blissful surprise and magic.
You are warned not to try to replicate this at home or online.
Related:
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March 5th, 2008
Sorry, I think using the word “Developer” in the last part is a bit insulting to actual software developers. When we gonna start calling them “annoying criminals who have nothing better to do because they have no social skills and can’t hold a job” and start prosecuting them?
August 3rd, 2008
@bigtuna: this is a form of art, a prank, not an actual virus. can’t you get the funny side of it?
August 15th, 2008
I have so many ways to discredit your previous comment, bigtuna. One, we do have a job. Our job is to hack, crack, and destroy your internet life. I would love to get ahold of your IP and show you just how “social” we are.