Apple Macs hit by ransomware 'for first time'

[UNA Lion]

BBC News. A type of malware that locks computer files and demands a fee for their release has successfully targeted Apple computers.

The security researchers from Palo Alto Networks believe it is the first time ransomware has appeared on Macs.

The KeRangers malware was hidden in a version of a BitTorrent client called Transmission.

The makers of Transmission and Apple say they have taken steps to stop the malware spreading.

It is not clear how many people were affected.

Transmission is a program that lets people download and share BitTorrent files - often music or movies - with other users' computers.

After being informed of the malware, Apple revoked the developers' certificate on the infected software to prevent it from being installed if people downloaded it.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Don't about macs but ransom ware have been hitting iPads for a while. Had a friend who iPad got bricked by it.

 

[WizardHawk]

Take that you arrogant apple fan boys

 

[fordman84]

I don't tor and I don't open silly links or texts and my iOS devices have never been jeopardized. Not like watching the wrong flash video or something inane like that.

 

[night]

I don't tor and I don't open silly links or texts and my iOS devices have never been jeopardized. Not like watching the wrong flash video or something inane like that.

My parents got hit by one of these ransomware things a few weeks ago on their Apple desktop and I don't think they do a lot of risky clicking. As far as I know these people could be hacking the advertisements and your computer could be at risk.

 

[WizardHawk]

I really know little about apple security, however it used to be you blamed the user for most infections on their systems on Windowed PC's and that's really not the case anymore. Sure, risky browsing substantially increases your risks, but the delivery methods for these attacks has matured a lot in recent years. Even normally legit sites can be hacked to deliver these and don't always require a click or other user intervention anymore.

It's so bad that we follow the best practice of having dedicated machines for doing online banking that do NOTHING else but that. No email, no browsing, nothing. When you are dealing with millions of dollars in the bank you take that extra precaution I guess.

Apples are still much less vulnerable than PC's for sure, but no platform is entirely safe anymore.

 

[fastforward]

If you do get hit by this I recommend trying bleepingcomputer.com. If they can't help you'll at least get good advice. If you want free software that might help prevent it you could try cryptoprevent.

Not entirely related but if you use a lot of flash drives, external hard drives, or USB connectors to 3rd party applications i'd recommend mcshield. It's designed to prevent cross-infection on devices.

 

[TP76]

Jeeze, rather get the virus/malware wipe my hard drive and restore from backups before I cluster my machine with all this antivirus, anticrypto, and antirootkit BS. I feel sorry for those who are sysadmins these days, what a friggin nightmare.