Apple has been targeted with a malware attack designed to hold Macs to ransom. Josh Miller/CNET Sorry, Mac fans. Now you're no better off than regular old PC users. Security researchers have discovered what they believe to be the first-ever ransomware attack targeted at Apple users that actually made it out 'into the wild,' meaning it's a genuine threat. And in bad news for downloading fiends, it's being spread through torrenting software. The problem was first detected Friday, when a team of researchers at Palo Alto Networks found a popular BitTorrent client for Apple's OS X software for Macs that was infected with the ransomware, which they have dubbed 'KeRanger.' The BitTorrent software in question is Transmission, which Mac users can install on Apple's OS X operating system and then use to access shared files in so-called torrent swarms (which, let's not lie, is usually pirated content). It's not the very first time Mac-targeting ransomware has been detected by security experts. In 2014, Kaspersky Labs discovered such software, though it wasn't complete at the time. 2:51 It's an unwelcome arrival for Apple fans, who have long heralded the Mac as an untouchable rival to Windows PCs. While PCs periodically make headlines for being targeted with viruses, malware and any number of digital infections, Mac users have largely been able to avoid serious antivirus talk. For years, Mac users were told they were safe. In a world where every connected device is a potential target, even Mac users need to rethink their security. The KeRanger as ransomware is quite simple one and not as dangerous as windows counterparts. I think the main issue is the fact, that Macs are desirable target for scammers. It was claimed that OSX is more secure and due to minor market share ther. Apr 27, 2018 - Popular Mac viruses, malware and security flaws. Malware is a blanket term for a wide range of malicious software including adware, spyware. Update to remove the malware and Apple has removed KeRanger's. If you suspect a Mac virus has infected your system, it's important to address the problem. Mar 6, 2016 - The KeRanger application was signed with a valid Mac app. The malware then begins encrypting certain types of document and data files on. The stakes are high with KeRanger. Ransomware is designed to infect a computer and then put the owner in a bind, locking up files or functionality and essentially bricking the device until the user pays to have the problem neutralized. This particular piece of ransomware brings with it a $400 ransom note. More on Apple • • • If a user installed one of the infected versions of Transmission, an executable file embedded within the software would run on the system. At first, there'd be no sign of a problem. But after three days, KeRanger would connect with servers over the anonymous Tor network and begin encrypting certain files on the Mac's system. 'After completing the encryption process, KeRanger demands that victims pay one bitcoin (about $400) to a specific address to retrieve their files,' the. 'Additionally, KeRanger appears to still be under active development and it seems the malware is also attempting to encrypt Time Machine backup files to prevent victims from recovering their back-up data.' The Palo Alto Networks team notified both Apple and the Transmission Project on March 4. Since then, they say Apple has revoked the security certificate exploited by KeRanger and updated its XProtect antivirus software. Was The Keranger Malware A Big Deal For Mac OsApple declined to comment for this story. The researches also note that Transmission has removed the affected versions of the BitTorrent installer from its website.
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