A new information-stealing malware is targeting macOS devices, a study from Cyble has found.
The malware, which is called Atomic macOS Stealer (AMOS), was specifically designed to only target Macs and steal sensitive information from Apple devices.
Here’s what we know so far and how you can protect your Mac computer.
AMOS malware was found on a Telegram app channel being sold to hackers looking to wreak havoc. This malware’s main purpose is to infiltrate your device and obtain confidential data such as keychain passwords, complete system information, files from your desktop and documents folder and macOS password.
This malware scarily has the ability to infiltrate popular browser apps such as Chrome and Firefox, quietly extracting sensitive information like autofill data, passwords, cookies and even credit card information.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, it specifically targets popular crypto wallets like Electrum, Binance and Atomic.
A hacker can purchase AMOS through Telegram for a monthly fee of $1,000. It comes with a web interface (web panel) that simplifies the management of malware targets, as well as tools to guess private keys (brute-forcing).
This malware is spread through a .dmg file, which macOS users may be familiar with as they are the files that install software onto their computers.
Once the .dmg is opened, the software may display a fake prompt that looks like it’s part of the computer’s system. This prompt may ask for permission to access files stored on your desktop or in your documents folder. Once installed, it gets right to business quickly starting to gather private information and sending it to a faraway server.
Since it requires you to click on the .dmg file to install, you can avoid the malware completely by not installing any kind of untrusted software from an unverified source.
CRYPTO-MINING MALWARE ATTACKING APPLE MAC WITH PIRATED SOFTWARE
Here’s how to check if you need to update your Mac computer.
This story is also another reminder to always have good antivirus software running on your devices, as malware scams like this one may ask you to click a suspicious link or download an infected file. Having antivirus software on your devices will make sure you are stopped from clicking on any malicious links or from downloading any files that will release malware into your device.
See my expert review of the best antivirus protection for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices by visiting CyberGuy.com/LockUpYourTech.
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To protect your Mac from the Atomic macOS Stealer malware and other cybersecurity threats, it’s important to be cautious when downloading files, keep your software up-to-date, and have good antivirus software installed on all of your devices.
Have you encountered malware on your Mac? Let us know your story by writing us at CyberGuy.com/Contact
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