Infamous ransomware gang is now trying to target Mac users
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It’s no secret that malware tends to be more of a significant issue for PC users than Mac users. And while Apple’s advertising materials might suggest otherwise, this isn’t due to the fact that Macs are impervious to malware and inherently more secure. On the contrary, malware creators prioritize Windows simply because it’s the most widely used computing platform on the planet. While macOS certainly has layers of sophisticated security, its paltry market share has long made it an unattractive target for all types of malware, including ransomware.
In recent years, however, we’ve seen an increase in malware specifically targeting Mac users. And just this week, security researchers from MalwareHunterTeam made a startling discovery. For the first time, it seems that ransomware creators are trying to develop code capable of infecting macOS machines.
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For context, ransomware is an insidious form of malware that encrypts a user’s files, rendering them impossible to open. If a user wants to regain access to their files, they have to pay a ransom in the form of a Bitcoin payment in exchange for a decryption key.
MalwareHunterTeam writes that evidence of LockBit ransomware attempting to target Macs first emerged in November of 2022. If LockBit sounds familiar, it’s because it tends to be in the news quite often. Just this week, the ransomware infected Venezuela’s largest bank. In previous months, LockBit has infected government institutions and hospitals.
The US Department of Justice has previously said that LockBit is one of the “most active and destructive ransomware variants in the world.” All told, it’s believed that the LockBit ransomware group — which is believed to have ties to Russia — has generated well over $100 million in ransom payouts over the years.
Mac ransomware is still in its infancy
Security researchers found that the LockBit ransomware, while still in its infancy, not only targets new Macs, but older Macs with PowerPC processors as well. I can’t imagine there are many people still using…
