Information-stealing payloads targeted at macOS have spiked by 101% during the third and fourth quarter of 2024, accounting for most of macOS malware last year, reports SC Media.Despite their limited capability, macOS stealers — the most prevalent of which were Poseidon, Atomic, and Cthulhu — have enabled the optimization of data exfiltration capabilities for further compromise, according to Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 researchers.Infostealers were regarded by Jaron Bradley, threat labs director at Jamf, to have been integral in the escalation of malware aimed at macOS systems, with threat actors increasingly exploiting AppleScript in developing payloads.Such findings also challenge the greater perceived security of macOS, compared with other operating systems, noted Eric Schwake, director of cybersecurity strategy at Salt Security."Security teams must stay alert and take a proactive stance against these dangers, understanding that no operating system is completely safe from attacks," said Schwake, who urged the implementation of more robust endpoint security measures, up-to-date software, and extensive phishing and social engineering education for employees.
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