Malware Targets Macs And Is Hard To Detect. Once upon a time, Apple users didn’t have to worry much about viruses or malware. Hackers didn’t bother targeting them because there was so much low-hanging fruit in the Windows market.
Times have changed, and Apple is now one of the dominant forces in tech making it easier for Malware Targets Macs.
Given that change, the company’s products are now targets by hackers around the world. The most recently discovered variant of a MacOS-specific malware dubbed OSAMiner is an excellent example of Malware Targets Macs.
OSAMiner
OSAMiner is in the wilds and uses by hackers since at least 2015, but the group that controls the code takes pains to keep the malware relevant by making regular Apple updates. Its most recent update has made it a nasty piece of work indeed.
OASMiner’s latest capabilities have seen it target export payloads as run-only Apple Script files, which makes decompiling them a daunting proposition. That makes the job of security professionals attempting to analyze the code to understand it better an extremely challenging proposition.
Typically, OSAMiner spreads embedded in pirated copies of games and productivity software, so unless you make regular use of those, you’re unlikely to see this strain. However, if you do, it will quietly install itself on your system and begin hogging an ever-increasing share of resources. It does this as it sets about mining for cryptocurrency, using your system to put money in the pockets of the hackers.
As Apple malware goes, that’s certainly not the worst thing in the world. Your system will be sluggish and increasingly unresponsive if you find the infection with the code, but your files and the integrity of your network won’t be at risk. Of course, the hackers controlling the software could decide to shift gears at any time so that there’s no guarantee.
In any case, it’s something you should be aware Malware Targets Macs. Again, it is extremely hard to analyze properly, thanks to some clever coding tricks employed by those who designed it.
