MacOS Threat Landscape 2023: Trojans Top Risks, Updates Crucial
The macOS Threat Landscape Report 2023, published by Jamf and Bitdefender at Black Hat USA 2023 in August, has shed light on the growing cyber threats targeting Apple products. The report aims to debunk the myth that Apple devices are immune to such threats.
The report revealed that Trojans are the most significant threat to Mac users, making up over half of all threat detections. These malicious programs often exploit unpatched vulnerabilities, posing a real danger to users who delay installing Apple's security patches. Another quarter of 'executable' threats are Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs), with 25.3% of detections.
Mac users are primarily targeted by three key threats: Trojans, Adware, and PUAs. Threat actors strive to make their malware packages appear legitimate, increasing the likelihood of users falling victim. Among PUAs, 8% are crypto miners and 1% are jailbreak utilities. The most common piece of malware targeting Macs is EvilQuest, accounting for 52.7% of detections. Typically, threats designed to infect Macs require users to manually run an executable.
The macOS Threat Landscape Report 2023 underscores the importance of regular software updates and cautious downloading practices for Mac users. With Trojans and PUAs posing significant threats, users must remain vigilant to protect their devices.
