[Stop, Drop, and Roll]

Hello everyone.

I am curious to know if it is possible for a malicious file (such as spyware, keyloggers, etc) to be hidden somewhere on a Mac as a "hidden file."

If so, how do I detect or look for such files?

I have no reason to suspect that I have something like this on my computer but I'm just worried about if it's possible.

The reason I ask is because I plan on buying a new Mac soon and want to carry all of my files over, but without anything that is "along for the ride."

It would really suck if the folders that I regularly back up have something like this hiding in them.

Thanks for your help guys!

[Frigidman]

Doing a migrate also tends to make you wonder 'what other crap is it copying over?' I usually like to start with fresh clean installs, but going through all the preferences and setup and install of allll the other applications and files, ugh. I now just use migrate. But I ask the same thing if 'junk' is still following me around that could be clogging up the works (or worse, being spyware).

[teflon]

I too like to do the whole fresh install thing, which I did going from PPC to intel, but I eschewed from 10.4 to 10.5. I will, however be doing so in the jump from 10.5 to 10.6. The OS is getting a clean slate, so I will too.

In the process, though, I will keep the old machine or backup in a reference state for a few days at least until I get the new system up to speed (checking through all my main apps to ensure theyre set up right and have the install keys attached etc. etc.). It can take quite some time to iron out the kinks, but I like to think its worth it even though I run a fairly clean ship and periodically clean out the excess.

Anyway, to answer your question, I have no idea where you should be looking, as it would be fairly easy to hide this kind of thing. I guess you could check through activity monitor meticulously, ensuring that nothing non-user and non-system is running. For this purpose, itd be useful to quit all the extra menu bar items and other features so that youre not running much clutter.
Anything you dont recognise or has an odd name, tap it into google and you should be able to find it (usually on a linux site Ive found).

Aside from that, you should consider the manual migration (though if you use mail, thats a PITA to get up and running again, I hope it gets totally reworked for 10.6) and just copy across what you need.

[QuantaCat]

I don't know which other program this function has, but CarboncopyCloner copies an entire drive, minus system, and makes it bootable. And it's free. So the best of two options:

Backup AND bootable.

[yo-mike]

Macscan may be able to find anything that shouldn't be on your HD.
And, check this article out. http://blogs.zdnet.c...ecurity/?p=1325