I am a new mac osx user and 2 days ago while I was browsing the internet (google) and around the same time that I was checking out a site www.sew4less.com all of a sudden the screen changed and the message written across it was "Your system was Hacked & Shaidar-Haran" with big letters 'HACKED' across the centre of the page and a window below with the sentence "the world shall obey the Turks' rules" in a number of different languages. (I understood the English and the German language ones, so I'm guessing that's what the others said. At the bottom of the page there were a few more words, the last line being "Turkish Hacker's".
I've spent the entire day trying to find answers - should I be worried about this? Tried to download all of your free anti virus, spyware, etc. programs, but not one was compatible with my computer. Although I was able to download a few onto my computer. when I went to open them, the message that popped up was that they couldn't be opened in DOS. Also tried Jason's Toolbox program and that didn't come up with anything. I've noticed that some of my fonts are screwed up - sometimes some letters are missing, usually p, u and l. On titles it appears that some letters are on top of each other, as if there's not enough space. Might I add, in case it is not a coincidence, yesterday I uploaded the OfficeMac2008 program.
Quick Edit Note: I did type in two thousand eight, but I noticed it showed up as two thousand seven hundred seventy eight when it was posted.

Any advice????? Do I wipe everything off my computer and restart it all fresh?

This post has been edited by heidi123456789: Mar 2 2008, 03:40 PM

Have you rebooted the system? Sometimes these things just disappear when you reboot. However, I don't think I would panic about this, this won't be like a Windows infection. Also, remember that Google is your friend on this kind of problem, someone has or will encounter the same situation and solve it.

google doesn't seem to turn up any info under that name and I am not a mac user myself but I do know that none of the malware removal tools here are for macs since they are windows based, I would prefer a mac user to answer this for you but here is a link that should at least point you in the right direction as the link on from is towards mac malware removal.
http://spywaremilitary.com/mac-users

if you find out that malware removal on mac does turn out to be the same hassle it has become for windows users, the idea of dual booting with linux might interest you in that linux can be installed and reinstalled quickly enough, is more malware free(I have never seen any though they say it exists too) and therefore can be used to protect your main system when on the internet while you would still use your mac for the rest of what you do

This post has been edited by fleamailman: Mar 3 2008, 08:48 AM

Thanks, I did reboot the system (I'm guessing that means shutting down and starting up again, right?) And so far the lettering has repaired itself...
How would one be able to tell if there was a hacker still gaining access to my computer and/or trying to steal information from it - I've heard so much about identity theft.

Thanks again.

One can change one password and probably find ways to protect ones computer better but the hacker will also find new ways to hack so this cat and mouse needs another approach I believe, that is, ones computer is not the place to leave ones identity on, so it is better I feel to think that ones computer is open to start with and that it is unprotected because in the end the thief only wants your identity but if that identity isn't there to start with he gains nothing by hacking ones computer, where possible, photos, real names, passwords and any other information should be stored externally to the computer itself, for that reason USB keys and external hard drives are great whereas the today's best protection is probably tomorrow's security risk

another point is not disclosing the real information when joining a forum or site, there again I doubt that they have the right to know ones private details so I feel that one is morally free to cover ones identity there too I believe, one uses a dummy self while on the Internet

This post has been edited by fleamailman: Mar 5 2008, 08:16 AM

if you want to know if the hacker still has access to your compy (which is likely) you should definitely do a detailed virus scan with a mac based anti virus, (despite popular belief they do exist, it's no different than windows) fleamailman is definitely right on "today's best protection is probably tomorrow's security risk" you can always try using external drives but it would never thwart a talented hacker. just do a virus scan, you'll be fine. %90 of the time you get a trojan style virus intended to steal info, the hacker has already hit 30 or 40 other computers and just ignores you completely. I wouldn't worry too much unless you've got credit card info and stuff on there. in which case you should keep an eye on your accounts.