Apple Mac users targeted by Ransomware for first time

[HEXUS]

This fully functioning in-the-wild Apple Mac malware is known as 'KeRanger'.

Read more.

[shaithis]

.........but you don't get viruses on Macs!!!

[b0redom]

....this is malware not a virus......

[Jenstmar]

This is the second IT magazine where I've read about this. I'm pretty sure the one in 2014 also hit OSX, though it sure hit iOS hardest.

[peterb]

.........but you don't get viruses on Macs!!!

As boredom said.

But I don't know why you should think that. MaCos is based on UNIX, and the first viruses written were for UNIX systems. Macs have been relatively free from virus attacks because they weren't perceived as mainstream, but clearly that is changing.

Apples "walled garden' has provided some protection, but the application was compromised at source, but full marks to Apple and the developers for identifying and mitigating agains it.

However, of greater interest is the implication from the HEXUS article that the encryption is done online, rather than by the malware itself, which appears to act as a conduit, so that should be traceable.

[LeetyMcLeet]

It was only a matter of time.

We've seen an increase in malware-infected Macs over the last couple of years. Funny thing is, most of the customers bought macs because of the security advantage lol (or even funnier, because they're 'faster' -- my personal favourite)

[shaithis]

As boredom said.

But I don't know why you should think that.

Virus and malware are synonymous with each other these days and totally interchangeable.

And I don't think Macs are immune, that's just what I keep hearing from Mac owners!

[jim]

It does amuse me how often it gets trotted out. I think much of the time, it's a convenient rationale as to why they've spent more than they planned to on their new laptop.

It's never critical, but it's a feeling that helps soothe them.

[Plasmastorm]

It's simple, if your going to make a virus or malware you target the largest host. That's PC's.
Mac is no more secure from them than any other system.

[peterb]

Virus and malware are synonymous with each other these days and totally interchangeable.

And I don't think Macs are immune, that's just what I keep hearing from Mac owners!

Malware is the generic term, a virus is a type of malware that is self replicating and or self transmitting. This instantiation of malware is more like a Trojan.

And you shouldn't believe everything a Mac owner tells you!

It's simple, if your going to make a virus or malware you target the largest host. That's PC's.
Mac is no more secure from them than any other system.

A Mac is a PC PC stands for Personal Computer.

[Plasmastorm]

Mac is only a pc if you didn't live through the old Apple advertising stating that it is not a pc, it's a mac

[Otherhand]

Funny thing is, most of the customers bought macs because of the security advantage lol (or even funnier, because they're 'faster' -- my personal favourite)

And they're still not wrong; they do have a security advantage, and a significant one. It would take a lot more situations like this to remove that advantage.

It's simple, if your going to make a virus or malware you target the largest host. That's PC's.
Mac is no more secure from them than any other system.

It's got big advantages beyond lack of targeting. Apple has much more control of its OS than does any PC OS publisher. I wouldn't swap my PC for a Mac and will happily continue to take my chances, but Apple owners can continue being smug about relative security with a good few justifications.

[Myss_tree]

As the userbase (of Macs) grows then they are more likely to be targetted.
The Mac userbase is still relatively small compared to Windows and the userbase tends to be larger in more affluent Western countries whereas cheapo Windows boxes are still popular in Asia, India, Africa, China and the old Eastern Bloc countries. If the Mac userbase was to grow significantly in the latter regions its likely that malware/viruses and scams would also grow.
If i were a writer of malware/viruses or trying a scam then i would target Apple products as users tend to be smug about the dangers thinking they are non existant and not possible and the majority of the Apple userbase (particularly non tech) are complete plebs when it comes to how the devices work.

[b0redom]

You seriously think the average PC user is more knowledgable than the average Mac user? I suspect you are mistaken. I'm not trying to suggest that the average Mac user knows more, just that most PCs are in use in offices or bought from PC World etc.

[peterb]

And they're still not wrong; they do have a security advantage, and a significant one. It would take a lot more situations like this to remove that advantage.



It's got big advantages beyond lack of targeting. Apple has much more control of its OS than does any PC OS publisher. I wouldn't swap my PC for a Mac and will happily continue to take my chances, but Apple owners can continue being smug about relative security with a good few justifications.

Security through obscurity is not a good model to hide behind. OSX is still vulnerable through its UNIX heritage, as the Shellshock bug demonstrated.