Have you been looking for a good reason to update your Mac’s operating system? Well, if you don’t update it… you won’t be protected from this nasty MacOS virus.
According to Malwarebytes, a cyber security firm, some Apple computers have been recently affected by a vicious malware. This new virus crashes iTunes, freezes your computer, and even dupes you into calling a bogus tech support number. This malicious program is reportedly acquired when you navigate to a certain website through a link in a fake email.
Targeting Safari Users
If you’re running Safari on MacOS, you may well be vulnerable to this viral threat. Accidentally click on an infected link on the Safari browser (or your email) and you’ll be redirected to a website that loads malicious codes right onto your computer. What it does after infecting your computer can scare the daylights out of any Apple PC user.
The Malware in Action
Based on the findings, the malware typically triggers two different yet equally scary scenarios. First, it causes the computer’s Apple email client to create a flood of draft emails bearing the subject “Warning! Virus Detected!” Although the emails aren’t sent to any of the contacts in your address book (thankfully), the influx of draft emails eats a chunk of the computer’s memory. Consequently, your computer freezes.
The other scenario is that the virus launches the iTunes program multiple times without closing. Eventually, the program crashes under the weight of its own workload.
Whichever action is triggered, the malware provides an Apple support number offering to fix the problem. Of course, the contact info is false and it isn’t farfetched to think that the number may just be owned by someone disguising him or herself as an Apple employee so he/she could extort money to supposedly “repair” your machine.
Protection via MacOS Update
Have you already updated your Mac’s operating system to MacOS Sierra 10.12.2? In that case, you’re better protected from this tech support scam. Malwarebytes reports that Mac users running a fully up-to-date OS don’t seem to be affected by the Mail app DoS.
You don’t have to worry about this virus if you’re browsing on your iPhone and iPad, too. The malware doesn’t seem to have any effect on devices running a different OS, it turns out.
Since it only affects Mac users, it’s highly recommended that anyone running something other than the latest MacOS update should patch their computers ASAP. After all, MacOS 10.12.2 still provides the most recent protection against many of the latest viruses out there.
Malware’s Windows Counterpart
The new Apple virus isn’t really new at all. It shows the same characteristics as a virus that compromised PCs back in November last year (2016).
The virus consequently caused Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and other Windows web browsers to show a false help support web page that users couldn’t close. The infected Windows machines get bogged down so other programs can’t be opened, another hallmark trait of the malware. Afterward, it shows a bogus contact number that users could supposedly call for help.
Smarter Web Browsing
As Malwarebytes shares on its blog, the culprit behind this latest malware threat may be a newly registered scam website. The said domain was making the rounds late last year, infecting several Macs along the way.
In other words, not carelessly navigating to the said domain may be your best bet not to get your MacBook infected. Be judicious with the links you click on whenever you’re surfing the Web, too. Don’t click links within suspicious albeit tempting emails when you can. Your Mac and your sanity will thank you for it.
Tech support scammers have been cunning in hatching schemes that push fake alerts just so it can scare users into calling for assistance. The latest Mac malware is no exception. So unless you refine your Web browsing habits and update your Mac computer to the latest MacOS, you could very well be vulnerable to such a nasty virus.
