WireLurker - Apple Mac Malware

[Ebenesh]

Apple seems to be in trouble again as there seems to be a new malware threatening the likes of it. Researchers have found a program named WireLurker silently working on a Mac and affects any iPhone that is pluged on via USB. It seems to already have affected hundreds of thousands of users in Asia.

 

 

Once on a Mac, WireLurker can infect any iPhone that’s connected via USB to the computer, and install malicious applications.

“WireLurker exhibits complex code structure, multiple component versions, file hiding, code obfuscation and customized encryption to thwart anti-reversing,” the researchers wrote.

“WireLurker is capable of stealing a variety of information from the mobile devices it infects and regularly requests updates from the attackers command and control server. This malware is under active development and its creator’s ultimate goal is not yet clear,” he said.

“They are still preparing for an eventual attack,” Palo Alto Networks director of threat intelligent Ryan Olson told the Times. “Even though this is the first time this is happening, it demonstrates to a lot of attackers that this is a method that can be used to crack through the hard shell that Apple has built around its iOS devices.”

 

 

Apple seems to be having a pretty tough time defending itself with a lot of issues these days... Anyway.. Thoughts ?

 

Source: http://bgr.com/2014/11/06/iphone-and-mac-malware-wirelurker/

[Pugs501]

[jezza39]

It's software, of course it can get exploited. This seems pretty minor, and will probably be patched in a fortnight or has already been done. What do you mean by a "lot of issues". They can't help people using easily guessable passwords/email addresses. You can't fix people's stupidity.

 

FYI: MAC =/= Apple Mac.

[Trik'Stari]

Fairly sure this is a repost. Finding link

 

I was wrong, but there is this

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/245409-malicious-software-campaign-targets-apple-users-in-china/

[Valentyn]

Good thing they caught it before something took place. Now to clean it up before they can make a move with it.

 

Interesting that it's mostly affecting Asia though, but considering it's point is an unofficial App Store it seems logical. Hopefully this means the official app store gets beefed up with what people want so they don't have to go to the dodgy ones.

[virtualTune]

Please think of the Dark Theme Users

[AlexGoesHigh]

Please think of the Dark Theme Users

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/193630-complete-list-of-forum-addons-scripts-apps-etc/

[Lord Pantaloons]

I will think if this when someone tells me that Mac's don't get malware and laugh.

[Speedbird]

"But Macs don't get viruses"

[DigitalHermit]

It's about time that their huge sales resulted in this...

 

Windows has a lot of malware made for it because of the large install base... With mac catching up, this was bound to happen sooner or later...

[Sauron]

Well, I guess it's just normal, not sure why it's such a big deal to be honest. I just hope they don't try to cover it up through some stupid pr, there's no need to and they'd just be encouraging illiterate fanboyism.

[cesrai]

Set font color to Auto.

[dalekphalm]

Well, I guess it's just normal, not sure why it's such a big deal to be honest. I just hope they don't try to cover it up through some stupid pr, there's no need to and they'd just be encouraging illiterate fanboyism.

It's such a huge deal because even now - to this day - many Mac users falsely believe that Mac OS X is immune to viruses. "Mac's can't catch viruses" is still something I hear. It was even worse when I still worked at Staples, and any Mac users that came in would tell this to me (We sold both Mac and PC). I even know that other employees would falsely tell customers this to help make a Mac sale.

[Tonylu1595]

"But Macs don't get viruses"

Macs do have pretty good antivirus built in.

[Kamina]

Mac just works out of the box, plug and play. Oh wait....

[Sauron]

It's such a huge deal because even now - to this day - many Mac users falsely believe that Mac OS X is immune to viruses. "Mac's can't catch viruses" is still something I hear. It was even worse when I still worked at Staples, and any Mac users that came in would tell this to me (We sold both Mac and PC). I even know that other employees would falsely tell customers this to help make a Mac sale.

 

I know, but those people aren't even going to know this exists unfortuntely... as it's not the first malware reported, if anyone was going to change their mind they already would have. Whereas for people who know what they're talking about, this isn't big news.

[CaliJL]

It's quite amusing seeing all the tech sites report this, yet conveniently leaving out that this only affects people who download apps from a third party app store in China.  :rolleyes:

[VMaxMuffin]

Well I'm glad this is making mainstream news (at least in Australia): http://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/iphone-and-ipad-get-first-serious-virus/story-fn6vihic-1227114728358

 

Hopefully this will shut up the "Apple products can't get virus" group. Still less susceptible to viruses, yes, but not immune. I finally got rid of the super-annoying Sophos antivirus (that my school put on my MacBook...) and am replacing it with Avast so I'll be interested to see if it picks anything up.

[virtualTune]

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/193630-complete-list-of-forum-addons-scripts-apps-etc/

I have both installed. Seems I have a problem with Tampermonkey

[mr moose]

It's quite amusing seeing all the tech sites report this, yet conveniently leaving out that this only affects people who download apps from a third party app store in China.  :rolleyes:

that's where they think it originated and probably where most of the infections came from, but it looks like you can get it the old fashioned way.  So even if you avoid third party apps, if someone in your office has the virus then the only way to avoid it is to avoid nearly all file sharing. Basically I don't think they are leaving out info on purpose, If they were to claim you could only get it from third party apps they would be reporting falsely.

[brownninja97]

Shucks my father is gonna be pretty annoyed, apple seems to be getting targeted more and more these days.

[Builder]

It's such a huge deal because even now - to this day - many Mac users falsely believe that Mac OS X is immune to viruses. "Mac's can't catch viruses" is still something I hear. It was even worse when I still worked at Staples, and any Mac users that came in would tell this to me (We sold both Mac and PC). I even know that other employees would falsely tell customers this to help make a Mac sale.

Well considering it's already patched by now I'm not even sure what there is to worry about. In fact the definition has been in XProtect since at least 10:00AM this morning:

 

http://www.loopinsight.com/2014/11/06/apples-statement-on-the-wirelurker-malware/

 

Shucks my father is gonna be pretty annoyed, apple seems to be getting targeted more and more these days.

If by more and more you mean a number you can still count on your hands then yes. The same cannot be said for *ahem* certain OTHER popular (proprietary?) operating systems.

 

But no, I'm not back. Please do not quote me. I set my password to a keyboard-mashed string and dissociated my email so when I log out I'm gone forever.

[dalekphalm]

Well considering it's already patched by now I'm not even sure what there is to worry about. In fact the definition has been in XProtect since at least 10:00AM this morning:

 

http://www.loopinsight.com/2014/11/06/apples-statement-on-the-wirelurker-malware/

 

If by more and more you mean a number you can still count on your hands then yes. The same cannot be said for *ahem* certain OTHER popular (proprietary?) operating systems.

 

But no, I'm not back. Please do not quote me. I set my password to a keyboard-mashed string and dissociated my email so when I log out I'm gone forever.

Oh I dare to quote you!

 

Anyway, the reason why Apple has less viruses is because its a far less marketshare. Simple as that. Target the biggest pool of potential victims.

 

Everyone knows that Windows has a ton of viruses and malware. That's not news. However the "idea" that Mac OS X "doesn't get viruses" is still extremely pervasive, and that's simply factually incorrect. That was pretty much my only point.

[AnnoyedShelf]

@Ebenesh great post, but I don't know how many times I have to say this, leave your font colour on auto so that those of us using the night theme don't have to highlight the text to read it.