A security researcher has uncovered a dangerous new malware that targets Mac OS X users, infiltrating their webcam sessions without alerting the users of its presence.
The Stealth Mac OS X Malware Is Watching Your Webcam
The security researcher Patrick Wardle has revealed information about a new Mac OS X malware that is able to record the webcam sessions initiated by the computer victims. Wardle is a former employee of the NSA and currently heads the research at the information security company Synack. Information about the threat was given at the Virus Bulletin security conference.
The uncovered samples have shown that there are multiple versions of the malware that target both Windows and Mac OS X users. While there are several threats that all record the web camera of the computers, the recording activity is known to the user using a LED light. The malware in question, however, employs a different tactic – rather than spying on the users and risking detection because of the LED indicator; it is enabled only the camera is used by the user to conduct video chats.
There are no known techniques or software solutions that can detect accurately this kind of infection. The security researcher has developed a specialist solution called Oversight. It can detect and identify any processeses that access the webcam and give the users the ability to allow or block them. All notifications are logged which gives system administrators the ability to detect suspicious activity.
