Apple was targeted over the weekend with ransomware hidden in a popular program…
Apple computers have typically not been the target to most ransomware schemes. The most popular target has been the Windows operating system. However, with Apple products booming in popularity, it was only a matter of time before scammers found them as their next target.
According to Yahoo News, over the weekend, Macintosh had its first ransomware campaign, KeRanger, hit in full force. The malware was inserted into a well-known program called Transmission. When Apple PC users updated the Transmission program, with the update that became available on Friday, March 4th, they became infected. Yahoo News reported the ransomware will take three days to start encrypting files. Dodi Glenn, PC Pitstop’s Vice President of Cybersecurity made the following statement to eWeek.com regarding the Apple attack,
“This is the first really functional ransomware on the Mac. Future versions will be set so that it will encrypt the Time Machine backups,” he said, meaning that you won’t be able to just go back a few days and restore from backups using the standard backup software. Fortunately, you don’t have to depend on Time Machine for you backups. “If you’re using an offsite backup, that data will be safe,” Glenn said.
Since the attack, Transmission has taken steps to create another, ransomware-free, update for the users. This new version will remove the ransomware on the infected PCs. Transmission has also revoked the digital certificate that enabled the malicious software to be inserted into their program, and removed the malicious software from their site.
If you believe you may have been affected, it is advised you update your Transmission software to the 2.92 version immediately.
