Looks like on operating system of Apple devicesthe ban has been opened for viruses, trojans and other types of malware that other platforms already suffered. And it is that, with its generalization and expansion, it is more tempting for cybercriminals to develop threats and tools that allow them to know user data for their own benefitSomething that already happened just a few days ago with WireLurker, which managed to infect a good number of devices in China , and now it happens again with another aspect and through applications
The threat has been discovered by the security firm FireEye It has been given the name Masque, and it looks like worse malware than WireLurker due to the way it works. Thus, Masque would reach the iPhone, iPod or iPad in the form of a simple and innocuous application, hidden in it. However, when installing it in the terminal, the program would take care of replacing any of the applications already installed of the user with a very similar appearance and practically identical operation.
The difference is that, in the background, the malware is responsible for collecting all kinds of user information to forward to the cybercriminalThe problem is that Masque focuses on replacing some of the apps already installed. So, you can try to pretend to be Gmail and get mail addresses and messages, or get even acting as one of the user's banking applications to steal all kinds of codes and passwords , thus being able to reach the money of the user if necessary.
This new threat is possible due to a vulnerability in the operation of iOS that does not match the credentials of an application if a equal security certificate already exists on the device. That is, that Maque arrives disguised as an application with the same security as another tool already installed to later choose which one to impersonate and where to steal sensitive user data.
According to FireEye, Apple has already been informed about the vulnerability of iOS that allows the free action of malware programs such as Masque However, from Cupertino no statement has yet been made about the problem. Apparently, Masque can affect terminals with iOS 7 and iOS 8, regardless of whether they are under the Jailbreak system or not Of course, the Apple's own applications seem to be saved from the threat, without being able to be supplanted by Masque or suffer information theft of any kind by it.
Given this, the best thing to do is do not install applications from unsafe places That is, install tools and games only through the App Store You must also avoid unknown or suspicious developers, entering only in the terminal insured content, from known and reliable sources.We will therefore have to wait for Apple to develop some kind of countermeasure against Masque A new virus in the operating system that, until now, could boast of not having malware in general. A stage and point in favor for Apple that could well come to an end, seen what has been seen.
