[bestbits] APPLE MACs HIT BY RANSOMWARE 'FOR THE FIRST TIME'

[Wisdom Donkor]

Dear All,

A type of malware that locks computer files and demands a fee for their
release has successfully targeted Apple computers. The security researchers
from Palo Alto Networks believe it is the first time ransomware has
appeared on Macs.

The KeRangers malware was hidden in a version of a BitTorrent client called
Transmission.
The makers of Transmission and Apple say they have taken steps to stop the
malware spreading. It is not clear how many people were affected.

Transmission is a program that lets people download and share BitTorrent
files - often music or movies - with other users' computers.

After being informed of the malware, Apple revoked the developers'
certificate on the infected software to prevent it from being installed if
people downloaded it.

Transmission's developers released a new version of their software and
added a notice on their website, urging customers to upgrade immediately.
'likely outcome' Apple's Mac operating system - Mac OS X - has
traditionally been considered to be a secure system because it is more
locked down than the myriad of devices running Windows operating systems.
While writing malware code for Macs is more difficult because there is less
of it around, as the computers become more commonly used criminals are
working harder to target them, Greg Day, Palo Alto Networks' chief security
officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa told the BBC.

"In all honesty unfortunately this is a likely outcome," he said of his
team's discovery.
"There is a simple reality which is criminals will follow us as users of IT
to generate ransom.
"We've seen more Mac threats in the last few years - it's a very good
reminder that there is no environment which is risk free from cyber attack."

Cheers


*WISDOM DONKOR (S/N Eng.)*
ICANN Fellow / ISOC Member, IGF Member, Diplo Foundation
OGP Working Group Member, Africa OD Working Group Member
E-government and Open Government Data Platforms Specialist
National Information Technology Agency (NITA)
CERT Ghana
Ghana Open Data Initiative (GODI)
Post Office Box CT. 2439, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
Tel; +233 20 812881
Email: wisdom_dk at hotmail.com
wisdom.donkor at data.gov.gh
wisdom.dk at gmail.com
Skype: wisdom_dk
facebook: facebook at wisdom_dk
Website: www.nita.gov.gh / www.data.gov.gh
www.isoc.gh / www.itag.org.gh
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