Undetectable form of Mac malware may still pose threat to users

A version of Fruitfly has remained hidden from anti-virus software for up to 10 years

A version of Fruitfly has remained hidden from anti-virus software for up to 10 years

Undetectable form of Mac malware may still pose threat to users

A version of Fruitfly has remained hidden from anti-virus software for up to 10 years

A strain of malware that targets Mac computers may still be infecting users without their knowledge. Dubbed Fruitfly, the backdoor had been flying under the radar for years before it was discovered by cybersecurity experts in January.The first version of the malicious software spied on victims through devices' webcams, captured their screens and recorded keystrokes. The culprits behind Fruitfly remain unknown, but it's been infiltrating devices since at least 2015. Fruitfly 2, a second variation of the strain, had been hiding from anti-virus software for five to 10 years when first detected. According to Motherboard on Monday, it has likely infected several hundred users. Santa Clara-based online security company Malwarebytes said Fruitfly was "targeting biomedical research centers" when first identified in January. It's unclear if the perplexing malware still poses a risk to potential victims, and InfoSec experts believe even more computers could have been impacted by Fruitfly. "We still don't know how it gets installed," said Thomas Reed, Director of Mac Offerings at Malwarebytes, earlier this year. "All samples so far have been observed installed in user space, so running in a standard user account will not protect against this."Though Fruitfly isn't at the forefront of cutting-edge malware, its longevity and ability to remain invisible to anti-virus software is alarming - especially as cybercriminals set their sights on iOS-based devices. The FBI is reportedly investigating Fruitfly, though a spokesperson claimed that "as a matter of longstanding policy, the FBI neither confirms nor denies the existence of investigations."While Google's Android operating system continues to face a barrage of virtual attacks, Apple device users have remained largely unscathed by hostile software.But this is changing.Malicious software targeting iOS-based mobile devices and computers is on the rise, according to software security firm McAfee. Cyberassaults on Mac laptop and desktop computers increased 744 percent last year, mainly due to adware, which automates advertisements to generate revenue.

A strain of malware that targets Mac computers may still be infecting users without their knowledge. Dubbed Fruitfly, had been flying under the radar for years before it was discovered by cybersecurity experts in January.

The first version of the malicious software spied on victims through devices' webcams, captured their screens and recorded keystrokes. The culprits behind Fruitfly remain unknown, but it's been infiltrating devices

, a second variation of the strain, had been hiding from anti-virus software for five to 10 years when first detected. According to , it has likely infected several hundred users.

Santa Clara-based online security company Malwarebytes said Fruitfly was "targeting biomedical research centers" when first identified in January. It's unclear if the still poses a risk to potential victims, and InfoSec experts believe even more computers could have been impacted by Fruitfly.

"We still don't know how it gets installed," , Director of Mac Offerings at Malwarebytes, earlier this year. "All samples so far have been observed installed in user space, so running in a standard user account will not protect against this."

Though Fruitfly isn't at the forefront of cutting-edge malware, its longevity and ability to remain invisible to anti-virus software is alarming - especially as cybercriminals set their sights on iOS-based devices.

The FBI is reportedly investigating Fruitfly, though a that "as a matter of longstanding policy, the FBI neither confirms nor denies the existence of investigations."

While Google's Android operating system continues to face a barrage of virtual attacks, Apple device users have remained largely unscathed by hostile software.

But this is changing.

Malicious software targeting iOS-based mobile devices and computers is on the rise, according to software Cyberassaults on Mac laptop and desktop computers increased , mainly due to adware, which automates advertisements to generate revenue.

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