If you thought that best MacBooks were safe from malware, think again, as hackers now have Apple computers firmly in their sights.
Although there are a number of different Mac Malware Strainsone in particular keeps reappearing. atomic thief is information-stealing malware that is often distributed through pirated applications. This time, however, this malware impersonates popular applications on Google Ads trick unsuspecting users into infecting their Apple computers.
According to a blog post of Intego, researchers at the cybersecurity firm have been tracking two new Atomic Stealer variants. What makes this malware particularly dangerous is that it is designed to steal sensitive data, including saved passwords, cookies, autocomplete text, and even cryptocurrency from infected Macs.
Here’s everything you need to know about this new Atomic Stealer campaign along with some tips and tricks to help keep your Mac malware-free.
Impersonate popular Mac apps
Just as companies can buy ad space to make their products appear higher in search results, hackers can do it too. They have been using this technique for the last year, so I highly recommend that you scroll down past the ads and not just click on the first result on Google (or any other search engine). .
In this particular campaign, the hackers behind it impersonate a popular Mac utility, a personal finance app, a digital card game, and a productivity app that use this technique.
Using the File Juicer utility, which extracts embedded files from different types of documents, and the personal finance app Debit & Credit, the hackers behind this campaign are using a fake installer called “AppleApp.” When opened on a vulnerable Mac, instead of installing the actual programs, this installer infects the system with Atomic Stealer malware.
As for the digital card game Parallel and the productivity software Notion, both fake applications have installers that impersonate their legitimate counterparts, with their names and logos.
During its investigation into the matter, Intego also observed that many of these fake apps are actually malware droppers which are “designed to obtain and install additional malware.” These droppers try to hide in plain sight before connecting to a malicious website to download additional payloads onto an infected computer.
How to keep your Mac safe from malware
To avoid accidentally downloading fake apps that spread malware on your Mac, there are some steps you can take to stay safe.
For starters, it’s best to stick to official app stores like Mac App Store when downloading new software. If you need to search for a particular program on a search engine, you should scroll down to see the ads, as they could be malicious, and instead install the application or program directly from a company’s website. When you know a company’s web address, it’s best to also type it into your browser’s address bar.
Although your Mac comes with built-in malware protection in the form of XProtect, you may also want to consider investing in the the best antivirus software for Mac for your Apple computer. These paid antivirus programs have more features and it’s worth noting that Intego’s Mac antivirus products also have a clever trick up their sleeve. Both Intego Mac Internet Security X9 and Intego Mac X9 Premium Package can scan the best iPhones and iPads for malware, but only when they are connected to a Mac via a USB cable.
With Mac users being such a profitable target for hackers, it’s very likely that we’ll continue to see even more malware targeting Apple computers. This is why you need to be very careful online and this is especially true when downloading new apps or software.
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