And while Gatekeeper is an important layer of protection, there will come a time when you’ll need to bypass the Apple security system. It guards your Mac from all the viruses, spyware, and other unpleasant surprises by not allowing apps from unverified developers from being installed on your device. One of the most prominent features is Gatekeeper. There are now over 10 million malware attacks per year, and researchers are seeing that number growing again.Īpple offers numerous lines of malware defense to its macOS users. The number of malware attacks per year is on the rise again today, compared to 2020, when there was only a temporary dip for the first time in five years, according to SonicWall’s Cyber Threat Report. To stay updated on all things McAfee and on top of the latest consumer and mobile security threats, follow on Twitter, subscribe to our newsletter, listen to our podcast Hackable?, and ‘Like’ us on Facebook. Doing your research on prevalent threats and software bugs puts you in a better position to protect your online safety. Regardless of whether you are Team PC or Team Mac, it is important to realize that both platforms are susceptible to cyberthreats that are constantly changing. It also includes McAfee WebAdvisor - a tool to help identify malicious websites. Use a solution like McAfee Total Protection, which can help protect devices against malware, phishing attacks, and other threats. This will allow you to confirm the sender’s legitimacy. Hackers often use phishing emails or text messages as a means to distribute malware by disguising their malicious code in links and attachments. Do not open suspicious or irrelevant messages, as this can result in malware infection. If the message claims to be from a business or someone you know, reach out to the source directly instead of responding to the message. Avoid suspicious emails or text messages from unknown senders. Frequently updating your devices’ operating systems, browsers, and apps is the easiest way to have the latest fixes and security protections. For example, Apple confirmed that it addressed the bug exploited by XCSSET in macOS 11.4, which was made available on May 24 th, 2021. Software developers are continuously working to identify and address security issues. The following tips can help macOS users protect themselves from malware: 1. Regardless, it is crucial for consumers to understand that Mac’s historical security reputation does not replace the need for users to take online safety precautions. It is unclear how many devices were affected by XCSSET. How to Stay Protected Against macOS Malware As a result, the bug could allow hackers to access the victim’s microphone, webcam, or capture their keystrokes for login credentials or credit card information. While macOS is supposed to ask users for permission before allowing any app to record the screen, access the microphone or webcam, or open the user’s storage, XCSSET can bypass all of these permissions. This allows the malware to sneak in under the radar and inject malicious code into legitimate apps that commonly ask for screen-sharing permissions such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and Slack. By disguising itself among these legitimate apps, XCSSET inherits their permissions across the computer and avoids getting flagged by macOS’s built-in security defenses. Secretly take screenshots of the victim’s device.Quietly install a development version of Safari that allows attackers to modify and snoop on virtually any website.Steal cookies from the Safari browser to gain access to a user’s online accounts.Once the malware is running on a user’s device, it uses multiple zero-day attacks to alter the machine and spy on the user. By targeting app development projects, hackers infiltrated apps early in their production, causing developers to unknowingly distribute the malware to their users. The malware targeted Apple developers and the projects they use to build and code apps. Researchers first discovered XCSSET in 2020. However, recent attacks show that this is not the case. According to TechCrunch, a new malware called XCSSET was recently found exploiting a vulnerability that allowed it to access parts of macOS, including the microphone, webcam, and screen recorder - all without consent from the user. Many users have historically believed that Macs are untouchable by hackers, giving Apple devices a reputation for being more “secure” than other PCs. It is safe to say that Macs are well-loved and trusted devices by a significant portion of the population - but just how safe are they from a security perspective? In the first quarter of 2021, Macs experienced 115% growth when compared to Q1 2020, putting Apple in fourth place in the global PC market share. In 2018, Macs accounted for 10% of all active personal computers.
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