It's the first issue of the Apple Weekend Warrior and we've got some good stuff for everyone. To kick things off with the new and improved version of the QuickJump QuickPeek feature, we have a healthy dosage of Trojan malware, spiced with Snow Leopards on the side. Confused? Read the full article to get a better idea of what we're talking about.

Mac users beware - the first ever ARDAgent-based Trojan malware was recently identified by SecureMac, compromising the security of the normally airtight Mac OS X system. Known as "AppleScript.THT", the Trojan exploits a vulnerability in the Apple Remote Desktop Agent and allows malicious users complete access to the system. More details about the Trojan can be found in our full article.

Heads up iPhone owners! Symantec has just identified and confirmed the iPhone firmware 1.1.3 prep application as the first ever Trojan virus targetting the mobile device.

Although it does not pose a big threat, the application can still remove files on the iPhone rendering valid programs such as Sendfile and Erica's Utilities useless. More information regarding the virus in the full article.

One of the biggest rules about maintaining the security and integrity of your computer is not to access unfamiliar and questionable websites - yes, including those websites that a certain broadway production song proclaims that the Internet is for. While you may have the latest in computer security programs, malicious entities such as Trojan Horses can still slip past our defenses and wreak damage - and it only takes a case of mistaken identity, as the guys over at Intego have found out, having discovered a malicious piece of code that victimizes Mac OS X users.

So just what is this little bundle of bad news all about? A new Trojan Horse was found lurking in several naughty websites, one that tricks you into giving it full access to your Mac by pretending to be a video codec installer and asking for your unit's administrator password.

Should the user be tricked into doing so, the Trojan Horse will then successfully infiltrate the system and mess around with things inside quite a bit. Before we go too much into the technobabble, let's just say that this is a very bad thing, and would have you giving out your private details to people you would not even give your calling card to.

What's to be done, then? Well, to protect yourself from this potential threat, Intego suggests running Intego VirusBarrierX4 with its virus definitions kept up to date. Of course, there's also the deal about never clicking any website link that deems suspicious, even if you've got a hankering for the adult stuff.

Todd Stewart, who works for Virus Slayer Symantec, sets the record straight. As of today, there are no file-infecting viruses yet affecting machines running on the Mac OS X. He clarifies that the first-ever reported virus for the Mac, the OSX.Leap.A, is not a virus but a worm. What's the difference? A virus infects files within a single computer, worms are programmed to spread from one computer to another. Got that?

So as far as viruses are concerned, Mac users can still look down on PC users. But when it comes to worms, trojan horses and rootkits, Apple People and PC people could be paddling in the same boat soon. Symantec has already a high severity advisory for all versions of Mac OS X 10.4.x prior to 10.4.7. Later, they issued a Category 1 threat advisory for OSX.Exploit.Launchd, a proof of concept trojan code released publicly.

While Mac OS X security threats are still highly manageable, Stewart reminds everyone that "no operating system is without imperfections, and no computer connected to the Internet will ever be 100% immune from attack." In fact, he says it is possible that the first real Mac virus could be just five minutes away. Apple Computer agrees. While the company says the Mac offers better protection from viruses than a PC,  "itÂ?s never a bad idea to run extra virus and security software."

Symantec the Virus Slayer reported sighting a Trojan horse that exploits the Apple Mac OS X LaunchD Local Format String Vulnerability. It provides root access on the Macintosh OSX version 10.4.6 or earlier.

When OSX.Exploit.Launchd is executed, the malicious bug performs the following actions:

1. Exploits the Apple Mac OS X LaunchD Local Format String Vulnerability which may elevate the privileges of a remote attacker's local account on an Apple Mac OS X computer.
2. Uses a crafted .plist configuration file for LaunchD service. In order to exploit LaunchD the attacker must execute the command: launchctl load [MALICIOUS FILE NAME]
3. Runs inside the process of LaunchD which runs with root privileges.
4. Opens a shell with full root privileges which is controllable by the attacker.

However the company also said the Apple Trojan as a minor threat as it has not spread widely and easily removed. To help minimize attacks Symantec gave the following recommendations:

• Always keep virus protection program up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services (for example, all Windows-based computers should have the current Service Pack installed.).
• Enforce password policy to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Configure email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate infected computers quickly.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them.

If your Mac is already infected, you may download the removal tools from Symnatec.