Its logic is as follows: crooks wrap up dubious apps into seemingly legit software installers. Bundling: This method is front and center in the vast majority of today’s Mac malware distribution schemes.Below is a roundup of these top techniques in a threat actor’s handbook. Whereas malware operators’ repertoire spans numerous tricks to ensnare users and deliver evil code to Macs, a handful of them stand out from the rest due to their prevalence in the present-day cybercrime arena. Discovered in July 2020, it employs ransomware-style tactics to smokescreen its data harvesting activity. ThiefQuest is a particularly tricky example of a Mac info-stealer.

Then, this information is sent to a Command & Control (C2) server run by criminals.

After gaining a foothold in a system, they amass sensitive data such as passwords, credit card numbers, and cryptocurrency wallet details. These sneaky apps mostly tailgate into Macs alongside harmless software promoted through multi-component installation packages. Tap or click here for ways to outsmart scareware. A few notorious rogue programs from this cesspool are Advanced Mac Cleaner, Mac Auto Fixer and Mac Cleanup Pro. Scareware pretends to detect numerous performance and security problems to manipulate a Mac user into purchasing a license key. Tap or click here to find out how to stop your computer from being hijacked for crypto mining. Also known as Bird Miner, it was distributed via Trojan-infected copies of popular Virtual Studio Technology (VST) apps. OSX/LoudMiner, a notable example of a Mac threat from this category, broke out in June 2019. CryptominersĪ crypto miner’s goal is to gobble up a computer’s processing resources to mine cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or Monero behind the user’s back. When inside a system, Shlayer redirects the victim’s default browser to fake search engines and quietly downloads second-stage malware payloads. It was detected on roughly 10% of all Macs.

Two years ago, an adware strain called Shlayer took the world by storm due to its insanely effective propagation wave relying on booby-trapped Adobe Flash Player updates. These apps are nuisances that display redundant ads or hijack one’s browser and reroute it to junk services. Adware is by far the most common threat haunting the Mac ecosystem.

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