Malwarebytes’ report also exposed the increase in the use of malware thieves. They steal usernames, login credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, cookie data, and many other forms of sensitive information. Malware stealers extract all of their data from unsuspecting victims’ web browsers.
Throughout 2023, we saw the emergence of numerous malware stealers designed specifically for Mac. Atomic Stealer was one of the highest-profile examples; it could steal iCloud password information, cryptocurrency wallet details, and credit card numbers.
MacStealer was another high-profile malware thief that emerged in the previous year. Later in the year, MetaStealer sought to steal business information from Intel Mac computers. Apple subsequently updated its XProtect software to mitigate the threat of this solution.
Realst Stealer was perhaps the most interesting example of a malware stealer that disrupted many Macs in 2023. The malware disguised itself as a video game and spread through social media marketing campaigns; its core target victim group was blockchain and NFT enthusiasts.
Users exposed to Realst Stealer were at significant risk of their cryptocurrency being stolen. Developers also sought to make the malware ready to attack people with macOS Sonoma installed.
It’s also worth noting that in 2023, artificial intelligence has been exploited by less experienced coders to write malware. For example, ChatGPT has been repeatedly hacked, bypassing security barriers to produce malicious scripts. Some criminals are even using AI to create deep fake voices and steal money from users.
While the majority of Mac threats were still related to PUPs, threats were much more diverse than you might think. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest macOS risks from last year:
