trojan

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on trojan:

First-ever iOS trojan steals your face to break your bank [Updated]

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Trojan horse: first ios trojan goldpickaxe
The deceptive iOS trojan GoldPickaxe steals facial-recognition and more to get at your money.
Photo: Pexels-Kamal-Hayit

For the first time, an iOS trojan has been spotted in the wild. Adapted from a well-known Android trojan, GoldDigger, the new malware is called GoldPickaxe, according to a new report. And it steals an iPhone user’s facial recognition data to go after money in banking and other financial apps. We’ll show you how below.

OSX.Bella trojan discovered installing backdoors into Macs

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15 inch MacBook Pro Silver
It might be time to update your passwords again.
Photo: Apple

Security researchers have discovered a nasty bit of Mac malware similar to OSX.Dok trojan, which can bypass Apple’s GateKeeper feature.

The new bug, dubbed OSX.Bella, behaves and distributes itself in a completely different manner than OSX.Dok. But once installed, it executes a script that’s just as damaging.

Gatekeeper won’t stop this ‘major scale’ Mac malware

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The OSX/Dok malware forces you to install a bogus OS X update.
The OSX/Dok malware forces you to install a bogus OS X update.
Image: Check Point

OSX/Dok, a new strain of “major scale” malware targeting macOS users, can bypass the Gatekeeper feature that’s designed to block malicious software.

The newly identified trojan, which prevents you from doing anything on your Mac until you install a bogus software update, also goes undetected by many antivirus programs.

First malware targeted at non-jailbroken iPhones spreads in China

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I've loved every iPhone, from the first model onward, but they all seem impossibly small now. I haven't owned the iPhone 6 Plus (starting at $299 with two-year contract) for long, but already it feels like the right size for a phone that's more like a portable computer — that is, gigantic.


All the things the naysayers said would be a problem — small-pocket-syndrome, bending, looking like an idiot holding it to my face — weren't true (except the looking like an idiot part).


I keep it in my back pocket, and I have sat on it heavily every single day getting into my car or collapsing on the couch. I get a sickening feeling, but the iPhone's yet to show any damage. It's tougher than Bendghazi would have you believe.


I love the long battery life, the bigger screen, the Touch ID. Even Siri is better, thanks to faster Wi-Fi and LTE. I can even use the 6 Plus one-handed (but I have unnaturally long chicken fingers).


The biggest problems so far are the lack of a wallet case and finding the earphone speaker during a call. The phone's so big, it's easy to position the speaker beyond your ear, muffling the sound. I have to jigger it around my head until it gets loud. And if these are the biggest problems, there's not much to complain about. — Leander Kahney


Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
WireLurker is "the first known malware that can infect installed iOS applications similar to a traditional virus." Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

(Updated with Apple statement below.)

A new class of malware targeted at OS X and iOS is spreading like wildfire in China, according to new research by Palo Alto Networks. Dubbed WireLurker, the trojan hides itself in apps distributed through a third-party Chinese app store for OS X and side-loads itself onto iOS devices via USB.

What sets WireLurker apart from other malware is that it is capable of infecting non-jailbroken iOS devices, and it heralds “a new era in malware attacking Apple’s desktop and mobile platforms.”

China using jailbroken iPhones to spy on Hong Kong protesters

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Protesters in Hong Kong hold their phones high. Photo: AFP
Protesters in Hong Kong hold their phones high. Photo: AFP

As thousands of protesters flood the streets of Hong Kong demanding a democratic election, the Chinese government is reportedly using sophisticated malware to spy on not only Android devices, but iOS devices as well.

But don’t worry about China peeking at your Snapchats. There has yet to be a widespread instance of iOS malware in the wild, and this particularly “advanced” trojan still requires a tremendous amount of complicit behavior on the victim’s part.

Apple Teams Up With Kaspersky To Fight Mac Malware

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mac-virus-trojan
Apple is working with Kaspersky to identify vulnerabilities in Mac OS X.

If you still think your Mac is immune to malware and malicious infections then it’s time to stop kidding yourself. The recent Flashback trojan has proven that these a real issue for Apple’s desktop operating system, and as long as Mac OS X continues to grow, so will its infections.

But Apple is now working to prevent them. It issued a fix for the Flashback infection after it became apparent just how huge it was, and the Cupertino company is now teaming up with security specialists Kaspersky to identify other vulnerabilities.

Flashback Malware Was Worth Up To $10,000 A Day To Its Creators [Report]

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The Flashback infection could have generated more in 7 days then most will earn in a year.
The Flashback infection could have generated more in 7 days than most will earn in a year.

The Flashback malware which was found to be infecting over 650,000 Macs at its peak was earning its creators up to $10,000 a day, according to security specialists Symantec. The OSX.Flashback.K trojan, which is believed to be the largest Mac infection to date, is designed to steal page views and advertising revenue from Google.

Flashback Trojan Discoverer Reveals That 650,000 Macs Are Still Infected

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Flashback is still far from dead.
Flashback is still far from dead.

The Flashback saga has yet to reach its end, as a recent report debunks earlier claims that the number of infected Macs had fallen from 600,000 to 140,000 over a matter of a few days. Apple released a security tool to combat Flashback last week, and Norton Symantec reported that the number of infected machines had fallen to 140,000 shortly after. That number has been proven to be inaccurate.

In an interesting turn of events, the original Flashback whistleblower, Russian security firm Dr. Web, has revealed that around 650,000 Macs are still infected with the notorious trojan. Not only are there many Macs connected to the botnet that were previously unaccounted for, but more OS X computers are added every day.

Apple Suffers More Vulnerabilities Than Google, Microsoft, Adobe In Last Quarter

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This Apple's software is free from vulnerabilities? You couldn't be more wrong.
Think Apple's software is free from vulnerabilities? You couldn't be more wrong.

Apple’s operating systems and its software are generally believed to be the best available in terms of security and stability, but a new report from Trend Micro reveals that’s a huge misconception… at least in recent months. In fact, the Cupertino company suffered more vulnerabilities during the last quarter than rivals like Oracle, Google, Adobe, and even Microsoft.

Microsoft Office Vulnerability Brings Another Trojan To The Mac

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Just another reason why you should avoid installing Microsoft software on your Mac.
Just another reason why you should avoid installing Microsoft software on your Mac.

With the Flashback trojan now threatened by extinction thanks to Apple’s new removal tool, it’s time to turn our attention to another threat. A vulnerability in Microsoft Office is allowing the “Backdoor.OSX.SabPub.a” trojan to infect systems running Mac OS X and use a Java exploit to avoid detection from anti-malware products

Once on your system, the trojan can feed back screenshots of your system and execute commands.

FlashBackChecker Is The Quickest And Easiest Way To See If Your Mac’s Infected By Flashback Trojan

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Forget confusing Terminal commands; Flashback Checker is the quickest and easiest way to detect the Flashback trojan.
Forget confusing Terminal commands; Flashback Checker is the quickest and easiest way to detect the Flashback trojan.

The infamous Flashback trojan has now infected more than 600,000 Macs worldwide. Apple has issues two Java updates in an effort to patch the vulnerability in Mac OS X, but unfortunately for some, it was just too late.

We’ve already published instructions on how to see if you’re Mac’s infected by using Terminal commands, but there is an easier way. FlashbackChecker is a simple piece of software that will quickly tell you whether or not your Mac is infected.

Flashback Trojan – A Big Wake Up Call For Mac IT Pros

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Macs in business that don't include centrally managed antivirus protection maybe time bombs waiting to go off
Business Macs that don't include centrally managed antivirus protection may be ticking time bombs

The after effects of the Flashback Trojan are going to be felt for a long time to come. Although there’s been the occasional Mac malware announcement over the past few years, none was ever found to be rampant in the wilds of the Internet. Most were easily avoided by Apple’s basic security elements or by simple user actions like telling Safari not to immediately open so-called “safe” files after downloading them.

As a result, the Flashback Trojan caught a lot of people off guard – including individual Mac owners and some IT professionals who ought to have known better. It also highlighted deficiencies on the part of Apple when it comes to security.

Apple Issues Second Java Update In Two Days Following Infection Of 600,000 Macs

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Keep Java updated on your Mac to eliminate threats from the Flashback trojan.
Keep Java updated on your Mac to eliminate threats from the Flashback trojan.

Apple has issued a second update to Java in just two days this week as the company works to patch vulnerabilities that have led to the infection of over 600,000 Macs. The Java for OS 2012-002 update is now available to download via Software Update, and it’s recommended that you update.

Is Your Mac Infected By The Flashback Trojan Affecting 600,000 Macs?

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This Apple's software is free from vulnerabilities? You couldn't be more wrong.
Your Mac could be one of the 600,000 infected by malware. Here's how to check.

A Mac infected by a virus used to be something of a rarity, and it was the best argument you could bring to a Mac versus PC debate. But with Mac adoption surging in recent years, it was inevitable that Apple’s operating system would become a target for hackers.

Variations of one Flashback trojan, which first surfaced back in 2007, are now affecting more than 600,000 Macs around the world. Here’s how to find out whether your machine’s affected and kill the malware.

‘Flashback.G’ Trojan Is Infecting Macs With Older Java Runtime Software To Steal Your Personal Data

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java-certificate-flashback-trojan

Intego, the company behind the popular VirusBarrier security software for the Mac, has uncovered a new trojan horse called ‘Flashback.G’ that infects Macs running older versions of Java Runtime. The software installs itself on your system without your acknowledgement when you visit a malicious webpage, then it will record usernames and passwords for sites like Google, eBay, PayPal, and more.

Watch Out! This Trojan Pretends To Be Adobe Flash To Infect Your Mac

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trojan_bash_qhost_wb_installer

There’s loads of reasons not to install Flash on your Mac, from extending your battery life to keeping your system running like greased lightning. If those reasons aren’t good enough for you, though, here’s another one: a new Trojan for Mac is going around that poses as FlashPlayer, and if you’re not careful, installing Flash on a new Mac is all that it could take to infect your system.

How To Remove MACDefender Malware Software [Video How-To]

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The newest Mac OS X Malware, MACDefender,  has taken the Apple community by storm. Some are claiming that Mac Malware is getting worse, and even Apple won’t help you with this one. Fortunately, if you’ve been infected with this pesky new malware, the solution to uninstalling it is quite simple. It only takes a minute or two, and if you follow the steps outline in this video, your Mac should be back to normal in no time. Alternatively, here’s a text guide if you’d prefer that.