Rundown of Cyber Threats Mac Users Must be Aware of

Apple products are designed with effortless user-friendliness and in-built security features. However, it cannot be said that Apple’s security is flawless. Although adequate safeguards are in place to protect the average user, Mac devices are not immune to cyber threats.

Despite excellent in-built security, Mac users face the following cyber threats:

Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers are notorious as they hijack the web browser and redirect the homepage to its own. One such browser hijacker is Search Marquis. The virus redirects all the traffic to its landing page. That’s why you must install an antivirus so the process of Search Marquis removal Mac is fuss-free.

Malicious Browser Extensions or Plugins

Browser threats are extremely common, but you must not ignore them. You might unwittingly install malicious browser extensions or plugins. Although these can be lucrative, they are notorious attack vectors.

Macs come preloaded with the Safari browser, and while it is a safe browser, it can sometimes become a victim of virus attacks. However, the main reason why Mac users become victims of such malicious vectors is that they prefer to use Google Chrome.

Before extensions are accepted into Chrome’s web store, they are carefully vetted. But sometimes, the developer might sell the product to a different party, and they may have other intentions. Due to the auto-update feature, the extension will quickly install the intentions of the new vendor.

Also, extensions can be hijacked to deploy malicious code into trusting users, such as malicious JavaScript code. When this happens, the attacker can run anything on the system, from data-stealing malware to coin miners.

Moreover, browser extensions are commonly fielded to get user data and then sell them to marketers. Unfortunately, data brokers do not have a good reputation as they never comply with data protection laws.

Therefore, users must use as few extensions as possible and carefully examine them. It would be best if you also went through what data the extensions collect to be on the safe side.

PUPs and Adware

When referring to PUPs and adware, it is commonly reported that Mac users are at a greater risk than Windows. Although these threats are not as severe as spyware or malware, there have been increasing adware attacks on Mac computers.

Adwares automatically generate ads, and PUPs are unwanted programs because they come bundled with packages to download. These programs are heavily susceptible to security risks and can bring malware or viruses to the system.

Since Apple hasn’t taken any strict actions, these threats are becoming more significant, and Mac users need to stay alert.

Social Engineering

Social engineering is another common threat that Mac users must be aware of. These are successful in campaigns that target all platforms. With many users having their guard down, these threats sometimes become serious. Many of these scams even impersonate the mother ship in California.

Social Engineering Scams Include:

Scam voicemails or calls impersonating Apple support or other organizations’ help desks.
Fraudulent emails and other messages may appear to come from legitimate organizations, such as Apple.
Promotions that are too good to be true, such as offering lucrative prizes and products.
Misleading ads and pop-ups that say your system has a security issue, and you have to download a tool to solve it. This way, they invite users to download malware.
Unwanted invitations to subscribe to some website or calendar invitations.

You must stay alert and don’t give in to such scenarios. They may appear legitimate, but you must always verify the source.

Trojans

Apple’s market share is steadily increasing, and with that, it has started to attract cybercriminals and hackers.

Although Macs enjoy less variance in terms of viruses and malware, they are not immune. The malware attacks faced by Mac users are worse because they’re tailored to the Mac environment. They’re much more sophisticated than the ones attacking Windows users.

Trojans are typically disguised as legitimate programs, and they are designed to provide attackers access to the target system. This constitutes one of the single most significant threats facing Mac computers.

It is easy for attackers to sneak a Trojan onto the computer of a Mac user because these act and look like legitimate apps. Trojans and PUAs, in fact, share similar traits. Attackers deliver the malware through social engineering tactics like phishing and spam or via infected websites. They also leverage the victim’s most-used social networks and websites, such as torrent sites.

The Bottom Line

Macs are also vulnerable to malware and viruses. So you must not wholly rely on in-built security features offered by Apple. Instead, you must ensure to take added precautions to keep your system protected against malicious attacks. Some of the steps you can take include installing antivirus software, not clicking on unknown links, not downloading attachments from unknown senders, etc.