Mac Malware Becomes More Common – Are You A Victim?
Feb 17, 2020
Behind the fancy interface and icons, the MacOS operating system which powers Apple computers is significantly different to alternatives like Microsoft Windows. The system has been built from the ground up to increase security and protect users.
This design has been incredibly successful, allowing Apple to create the impression that iMacs and MacBooks are invulnerable, that hackers cannot break into their machines. However, iMacs and MacBooks are only as secure as the person using it and it is still quite common for people to leave their Mac unprotected by not installing anti-malware software.
Introducing the Shlayer trojan
Most will never have heard of the Shlayer trojan for instance – despite the fact that it has been attacking Mac computers since 2018. Researchers believe that around 10% of all Macs – millions of computers – have been targeted by the malware over the last two years.
The trojan spreads using website pop-ups, usually advising users to download an Adobe Flash Player update to access video content. The malware installer walks the victim through the process of installing the application before downloading additional malicious content itself.
Once installed, Shlayer hijacks the Safari browser to display targeted ads as the user surfs the web. The scammers are paid by advertising networks for every ad – a scam that may be worth millions of pounds every year.
A warning for Mac users
Shlayer tells us two things. First, Apple computers can be – and are – infected with malware. There are security weaknesses in the operating system and cybercriminals are exploiting them.
Time to protect yourself
While Shlayer has been quietly infecting machines since 2018, tools to protect Apple computers have been in existence for much longer. Take The Protection Plan for Mac for instance, which provides comprehensive defence against malware and all types of computer viruses.
As with any anti-malware toolkit, our Protection Plan works best when installed before infection. The good news it’s not too late – we can still detect and remove Shlayer infections from your computer.
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This design has been incredibly successful, allowing Apple to create the impression that iMacs and MacBooks are invulnerable, that hackers cannot break into their machines. However, iMacs and MacBooks are only as secure as the person using it and it is still quite common for people to leave their Mac unprotected by not installing anti-malware software.
But as Mac computers have become more popular, cyber criminals are devoting more time and attention to developing malware to target them. And many people are simply unaware of the risks they face.
Most will never have heard of the Shlayer trojan for instance – despite the fact that it has been attacking Mac computers since 2018. Researchers believe that around 10% of all Macs – millions of computers – have been targeted by the malware over the last two years.
The trojan spreads using website pop-ups, usually advising users to download an Adobe Flash Player update to access video content. The malware installer walks the victim through the process of installing the application before downloading additional malicious content itself.
Once installed, Shlayer hijacks the Safari browser to display targeted ads as the user surfs the web. The scammers are paid by advertising networks for every ad – a scam that may be worth millions of pounds every year.
This may not be the most damaging form of malware – but it’s very, very annoying. It also defrauds the companies paying for ads.
Shlayer tells us two things. First, Apple computers can be – and are – infected with malware. There are security weaknesses in the operating system and cybercriminals are exploiting them.
Second, although Shlayer is relatively harmless, other hackers will inevitably use the same techniques for more malicious activities. Expect to see Mac malware becoming more dangerous, stealing passwords and identities and sensitive data.
While Shlayer has been quietly infecting machines since 2018, tools to protect Apple computers have been in existence for much longer. Take The Protection Plan for Mac for instance, which provides comprehensive defence against malware and all types of computer viruses.
As with any anti-malware toolkit, our Protection Plan works best when installed before infection. The good news it’s not too late – we can still detect and remove Shlayer infections from your computer.
We fully expect to see new examples of Mac malware appearing in the near future – so it’s time to protect yourself now.
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‘Hacking’ refers to activities performed by a threat actor (a ‘hacker’) that seeks to compromise digital services, such as computers, smartphones, and networks. Hackers are usually characterised as only being unlawful, motivated by financial gain, information gathering, or even just for the thrill of having a challenge.
Penetration testing is a form of an ethical hacking simulation conducted in accordance with industry guidelines, which aims to closely mimic real-world targeted attacks that organisations face daily. By actively testing your organisation’s defences, you can understand your security posture while also improving your defences, reducing the likelihood of experiencing a cyber-attack, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability
A penetration test ultimately seeks to answer the question “How effective is my organisation’s security controls against a skilled human hacker?” while determining the security posture of your organisation.