Ransomware May Soon Target Mac Computers

According to security researchers, users of Mac OS X are likely to have a different security problem, with ransomware threats to increasingly target them in the future.

Security experts define Ransomware as a piece of malware which encrypts computer files and subsequently demands money in exchange for decryption codes.

Earlier in March 2010, experts from Intego unearthed the foremost PoC (proof-of-concept) ransomware program that aimed at Mac OS X. It apparently appeared on an online forum of a user, who complained that SMS-based ransomware held his Mac computer hostage.

Remarking about this PoC attacking the Mac PC, Spokesman Peter James of Intego said that it is entirely something, which can stop any sort of accessto the system, as reported by SCMagazineUS.com on March 16, 2010. James added that the ransomware code would require certain method to get planted; however, it isn't available, currently.

James further said that when Apple was developing software, it provided the code that was used to create the PoC.

According to him, this surfacing of the PoC should set an alert that creators of malicious software are concentrating attacks against the Mac environment.

He explains that any Trojan program is capable of being re-engineered so that this code can be included and then used to successfully serve the payload.

Moreover, yet another factor which supports the theory of the security specialists is that Mac computers are gaining popularity. Up till now, only a fewer number of people using Mac computers, in contrast to the larger number of people using Windows PCs, are potentially vulnerable to malware.

But security specialists forecast that as soon as do-it-yourself toolkits come into existence across the underground world to create ransomware, there will be greater possibilities of escalated malware attacks against Macs.

Indeed, this will serve as a lucrative venture for cyber-criminals since a business model of this kind can fetch vast amounts of dollars in the underground market.

Chief Research Officer, Mikko Hypponen at F-Secure, an anti-virus company stated that normally Mac users believe that they are immune to security issues, as reported by SCMagazineUS.com on March 16, 2010.

He said that Mac users must definitely know about the probable attack in question.

Related article: Ransomware Trojan Asks for $300 for Giving User Data Back

» SPAMfighter News - 3/24/2010