Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may have a serious headache to deal with in terms of the security of its devices. A family of malware currently known as WireLurker has been uncovered as targeting its devices in China from iPhone to Mac. Security experts understand very little about malware, it they said it has affected no less than 350,000 users so far. On Bloomberg’s “Before The Bell,” Betty Liu, Max Abelson and Olivia Sterns discussed the development that has scared even users of iOS in the U.S.
“A security company is reporting that it had undiscovered a malware campaign called WireLurker targeting Apple mobile and desktop users in China. So, instead of us being attacked by maybe Chinese hackers, the Chinese are being attacked […]”Liu stated.
The malware that looks different from the earlier strains of iOS attacks was discovered by Palo Alto Networks Inc (NYSE:PANW). The security company said it had informed Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) about the development. The unique thing about WireLurker is that it attacks even devices that have not been jailbroken, which have long been the targets of earlier hackers aiming at Apple users.
The malware infiltrates iOS systems by installing questionable apps. First it attacks the desktop devices and then spreads the infection through USB connector to iPhones and iPads. It is easy to download the malware on Mac because it is hidden inside legitimate software.
“The scary thing though is the news reports about it so far. You see the security experts don’t quite understand like what the end-game is for this. They see that it is probably infiltrating iOS systems, but they don’t know why,” stated Abelson.
The discovery of WireLurker and its sophisticated attacks have raised questions about the vulnerability of not only Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) devices, but also others like them. Although the end game of hackers behind WireLurker is not clear, it was reported that the malware may have compromised the address books of iOS users. It is also reported that the malware is constantly updated. Even the most expensive iphones are not spared.
Carl Icahn‘s Icahn Capital held around 52.8 million shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) at the end of the second quarter of 2014.
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