Skip to Content

Another Flashback for Mac Owners

An old Microsoft Word vulnerability from 2009 can infect Macs with new malware.
April 17, 2012

Here’s a good reason to pay for and remember to update your Microsoft Office software. Researchers at Kaspersky Labs and elsewhere are describing  two or more pieces of malware that can secretly steal confidential data from Macs.

The malware, called SabPub, arrives by means of an infected Microsoft Word document–using a vulnerability for which Microsoft had offered a patch in 2009, but that many people hadn’t installed, possibly because they were using pirated versions. The new finding comes just two weeks after security researchers confirmed that more than 500,000 Macs had been infected by malicious software, or “malware,” known as Flashback, arriving through a Java vulnerability.  

Keep Reading

Most Popular

Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build

“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”

ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it

The narrative around cheating students doesn’t tell the whole story. Meet the teachers who think generative AI could actually make learning better.

Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives

The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.

Learning to code isn’t enough

Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.