Apple released a new app, called Flashback Malware Removal Tool, late on Friday that does just what its name implies. Unlike the recent Java security updates, which also remove Flashback variants, this tool is designed for Lion users that don’t have Java installed.
According to Apple, the app includes the same malware removal tool that’s part of the Java for OS X 2012-003 update.
Earlier Flashback variants tried to trick users into installing the malware instead of relying on unpatched vulnerabilities in Java. Since Java isn’t included in the default OS X Lion installation, Apple released the removal tool as a stand-alone app for users that never needed a Java installation.
The Flashback Malware Removal Tool is available as a free download at the Apple Support website.