Last week, SophosLabs released detection for OSX/LoseGame-A and following Symantec’s publishing detection (which they call OSX.Loosemaque) there has been some controversy about whether this is a game or malware (see 1, 2, 3).
From my point of view this is malware. Why?
- The warning screen isn’t multi-lingual if English isn’t your first language you will still recognize ‘PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE’.
- Even if English is your first language a child looking for games on the computer will not read the warning but press through to the game.
- Would our corporate customers want this on their networks?
The concept behind OSX/LoseGame-A is ill conceived and it is likely to have malicious consequences not considered by the author.