Apple Releases Flashback Removal Tool for Macs Running OS X Lion without Java - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Releases Flashback Removal Tool for Macs Running OS X Lion without Java

Following yesterday's release of fresh Java updates to remove the Flashback malware system from Macs running OS X Lion and Snow Leopard, Apple today released a standalone Flashback malware removal tool to clean infections from OS X Lion systems without Java installed.

About Flashback malware removal tool

This Flashback malware removal tool that will remove the most common variants of the Flashback malware.

If the Flashback malware is found, a dialog will be presented notifying the user that malware was removed.

In some cases, the Flashback malware removal tool may need to restart your computer in order to completely remove the Flashback malware.

This update is recommended for all OS X Lion users without Java installed.

While the most dangerous method of attack for Flashback exploits a security hole in Java that Apple has now patched, various versions of the malware have also used social engineering and other tricks in attempting to gain access to users' systems.

flashback malware removal tool
With OS X Lion not having Java included by default, users of Apple's latest operating system who have found themselves infected through other means and do not have Java installed can use the new tool to clean their systems without needing to install Java.

The update weighs in at 356 KB and requires OS X Lion without Java installed.

Popular Stories

duo aquarium

More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try

Friday November 6, 2026 3:27 pm PST by
When the iPhone Duo launched, we shared a list of some of the fun apps developers created for the new form factor. Two weeks out, developers are continuing to come up with fresh ideas, so we thought we'd share some of our favorites. Games Marbles Unhinged ($2.99) - Marbles Unhinged is a marble maze designed for the Duo. When you fold it, the floor turns into a ramp. If you stand the top...
iOS 28 AI

Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28

Sunday November 8, 2026 7:42 am PST by
Apple has made a change to its development process for iOS 28, macOS 28, and corresponding software updates, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, he said Apple separates development of each year's new operating systems into three major stages. Typically, he said each stage consists of four weeks of coding followed by a four-week "convergence" period where...
apple pro tell logo

Apple Launching Five New Products Today

Thursday November 5, 2026 12:59 am PST by
Apple is launching five new products on Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models. The following new products will be available from today: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...

Top Rated Comments

likemyorbs Avatar
190 months ago
Why do you say it 'weighs in at' 356 KB?

Why don't you just say it 'is' 365 KB

I don't see how writing 'it weighs in at' adds any information or style especially as you have used this phrase at least 100 times in the exact same way. That seems to reveal a certain lack of style. Or perhaps I am just being a curmudgeon.

You're a virgin aren't you?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GGJstudios Avatar
190 months ago
Oh, and opening "safe" files after downloading isn't dangerous. What's it going to do, infect your computer by opening a ZIP or DMG? Just don't agree to any installations that randomly appear when you're browsing some shady site, loading plugins on the site.
This is how many were caught by the MacDefender malware. Granted, they should have closed the installer when it launched, but unchecking that option in Safari prevents even the installer from launching. It never should have been checked in the first place.

Macs are not immune to malware, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on Mac OS X, and there never have been any since it was released over 10 years ago. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which can be easily avoided by practicing safe computing (see below). Also, Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion have anti-malware protection (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4651) built in, further reducing the need for 3rd party antivirus apps.
Mac Virus/Malware FAQ (https://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_Virus/Malware_FAQ)
[LIST=1]
* Make sure your built-in Mac firewall is enabled in System Preferences > Security > Firewall


* Uncheck "Open "safe" files after downloading" in Safari > Preferences > General


* Uncheck "Enable Java" in Safari > Preferences > Security. This will protect you from malware that exploits Java in your browser, including the recent Flashback trojan (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5244). Leave this unchecked until you visit a trusted site that requires Java, then re-enable only for your visit to that site. (This is not to be confused with JavaScript, which you should leave enabled.)


* Change your DNS servers to OpenDNS servers by reading this (https://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_Virus/Malware_FAQ#Why_am_I_being_redirected_to_other_sites.3F).


* Be careful to only install software from trusted, reputable sites. Never install pirated software. If you're not sure about an app, ask in this forum before installing.


* Never let someone else have access to install anything on your Mac.


* Don't open files that you receive from unknown or untrusted sources.


* For added security, make sure all network, email, financial and other important passwords are long and complex, including upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.


* Always keep your Mac and application software updated. Use Software Update for your Mac software. For other software, it's safer to get updates from the developer's site or from the menu item "Check for updates", rather than installing from any notification window that pops up while you're surfing the web.

That's all you need to do to keep your Mac completely free of any virus, trojan, spyware, keylogger, or other malware. You don't need any 3rd party software to keep your Mac secure.

If you still want to run antivirus for some reason, ClamXav (http://www.clamxav.com/) (which is free) is one of the best choices, since it isn't a resource hog, detects both Mac and Windows malware and doesn't run with elevated privileges. You can run scans when you choose, rather than leaving it running all the time, slowing your system. ClamXav has a Sentry feature which, if enabled, will use significant system resources to constantly scan. Disable the Sentry feature. You don't need it. Also, when you first install ClamXav, as with many antivirus apps, it may perform an initial full system scan, which will consume resources. Once the initial scan is complete, periodic on-demand scans will have much lower demands on resources.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsmurf Avatar
190 months ago
Agreed. Now go bitch at the folks at Adobe and Oracle because it was THEIR software that was the issue that allowed this threat to happen. Not Apple.
Apple maintain and is responsible for Java for OS X which is a port of Java from Oracle. Moreover, Apple have a responsibility towards their customers.

Oracle DID fix the vulnerability 8 weeks before Apple. Apple just had to port the patch.

Even if that was to big a job for Apple they could have disabled the Java plugin on their platform as long as Java was unpatched. That amounts to making a software update that unchecks an option in the Safari preferences.

Even if that was too much of an effort they could have recommend to their customers to disable Java until further notice.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roadbloc Avatar
190 months ago
But was that infection caused by a flaw in OS X. No, it was a flaw in Java. Which Apple doesn't own or operate. You act like porting a software and setting up the installers etc for it to download via their Software Update system is this easy piece of cake that would take 5 minutes to set up. Which is likely very far from the truth.

Sigh. Okay, this is going to take a little more explaining it seems.

Imagine I have make a recipe for a wonderful cake. I call this cake the Java-Cake. I make these Java-Cakes and sell them to cake stalls/shops.

Okay, now this is where you come in. You want to sell my cakes in your cake shop, a shop you call the Apple-Cake-Shop. But you wish to bake them yourself so they arrive on the shelf fresh and perfect. I agree to give you access the latest recipe as long as people are aware that it is a Java-Cake and not an Apple-Cake-Shop Cake.

For a few weeks everything is great. Then I notice that some people are having an allergic reaction to a certain ingredient in my Java-Cake. I improve the recipe and remove the offensive ingredient. By default, you get a copy of the new recipe, because it is part of the agreement that you have access to the latest recipe.

Unfortunately, you fail to take notice and continue to use my old Java-Cake recipe. Your consumers begin sending complaints of allergic reactions. Naturally, because it is a Java-Cake and made by me, the initial reaction is to blame me. Unfortunately, everyone else but you has the safe version of the Java-Cake, putting you at fault, because you (for whatever reason) failed to use the latest recipe.

When you agree to do something on behalf of your consumers, it is your responsibility. It is your fault as the owner of the Apple-Cake-Shop as you failed to update the recipe. You either need to pick up the game a bit or let me bake your Java-Cakes for you to ensure you have the latest recipe.

And that is exactly what Apple needs to do. Either accept its responsibility that it took on or let Oracle bake their Java-Cakes for them.

Get it now?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
190 months ago
So those of you who ran this update, what happened? Did it just install and then nothing happened? I found it odd to not even be told that I at least DIDNT have this Trojan.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
faroZ06 Avatar
190 months ago
I've had Java running all this time and never had a problem...

Same. I don't see how so many people are getting this.

Also, Apple didn't release anything for Leopard, right?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
9 hours ago
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
19 hours ago
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
21 hours ago
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
2 days ago
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
2 days ago
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
2 days ago
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
3 days ago
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
3 days ago
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
3 days ago
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
3 days ago
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
3 days ago
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
3 days ago
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
3 days ago
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
3 days ago
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
3 days ago
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
3 days ago
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
3 days ago
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
3 days ago
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
3 days ago
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
3 days ago
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
3 days ago
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
4 days ago
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
4 days ago
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
4 days ago
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
4 days ago
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
4 days ago
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
4 days ago
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
4 days ago
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
4 days ago
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
4 days ago