Hijacking of iCloud Account Comparable to Ransomware Attack

It can be as unpleasant as having one's iCloud A/C compromised if not more unpleasant when compared to a ransomware assault as cyber-criminals have found one way for utilizing the 'Find My Mac' utility of Apple for securing users, towards remotely encrypting an end-user's data-files followed with demanding ransom amount for retrieving them.

In one blog post Malwarebytes has referred to the latest instance about an end-user of Mac who erroneously thought that some ransomware blocked access to her PC. However, actually some computer hacker had gained knowledge of the credentials of her iCloud account followed with subsequently utilizing 'Find My Mac' for encrypting her machine's files and then dispatching her one ransom note. What's more, the victim even got one electronic mail from the iCloud id she owned cautioning that she must pay the amount demanded in 24-hrs to avoid getting her bank as well as other personal details posted online. Scmagazine.com posted this, March 17, 2016.

The problem was fast perceived even as security researchers comprehended the horrendous condition the end-user faced, particularly because Apple would not extend any help to that end-user.

Naturally, a professional with some experience realized the attack to be from a hacker who compromised the end-user's iCloud A/C followed with employing Apple's security feature designed for safeguarding computers from theft; nevertheless, used it to rather serve his sinister objective.

The hacker took aid of Find My Mac security system for locking access to the machine followed with displaying his missive like one screensaver. A similar process occurred with the 'Find My iPhone' security system; however, it didn't lock Ericka's (real name of the end-user) iPhone.

Apple would not help so the company didn't unlock Ericka's machine as well as not set an altered iCloud A/C. Ultimately the crook had managed to encrypt the entire iCloud and data backups of her.

Whilst ransomware solely contaminates desktop PCs' or phones' data, it can't block access to iCloud A/C data. Practically, the crook did something far worse than contaminating end-users through a ransomware attack as the victim in discussion could not also access her iCloud A/C.

» SPAMfighter News - 3/25/2016