Atomic Stealer Sends Macs Malware Through False Browser Downloads

Atomic Stealer malware advertises itself via ClearFake browser updates disguised as Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari.

Anti-malware software program supplier Malwarebytes has described a brand new variant of Atomic Stealer (often known as AMOS), which is malware concentrating on Apple customers. The brand new malware variant, distributed via the pretend browser replace supply mechanism ClearFake, advertises itself as updates for Apple’s Safari browser and Google’s Chrome browser. The malware is able to grabbing a consumer’s information and sending it to an attacker’s command and management server.

Jérôme Segura, senior director of menace intelligence at Malwarebytes, famous in his submit concerning the assault that ClearFake is actively being up to date and that its use of good contacts particularly makes it “one of the vital prevalent and harmful social engineering schemes.”

“Pretend browser updates have been a typical theme for Home windows customers for years, and but up till now the menace actors didn’t increase onto MacOS in a constant means,” Segura identified.

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Timeline of Atomic Stealer malware

Atomic Stealer was first marketed as a malware supply choice for menace actors in April 2023. Malwarebytes present in September 2023 that Atomic Stealer was concentrating on Mac customers via pretend software program updates marketed on Google searches. Atomic Stealer was significantly suited to grabbing passwords and Apple keychain codes used for bitcoin wallets. Atomic Stealer may also elevate bank card info.

Whereas Atomic Stealer had been concentrating on Mac customers for a while, ClearFake was traditionally used solely in opposition to Home windows machines. That is outstanding as a result of ClearFake is among the first Home windows social campaigns made for Home windows that then expanded to not solely a special geolocation however a special working system. Safety researcher Randy McEoin found ClearFake in August 2023.

Safety researcher Ankit Anubhav identified on Nov. 17 that, whereas ClearFake had been seen concentrating on Home windows, the Mac model is a brand new improvement.

How ClearFake poses as Safari and Chrome updates

ClearFake is a sequence of malicious web sites that purport to supply updates for Safari (Determine A) and Chrome (Determine B). Potential victims will see websites posing as reputable browser updates.

Determine A

Determine B

Then, the ClearFake rip-off will ship Atomic Stealer. Victims who click on via to the false updates will obtain a .dmg file that may steal passwords and extract recordsdata.

SEE: Some menace actors have used Apple units for surveillance during the last yr, and it’s a development that will proceed, in keeping with Kaspersky. (TechRepublic) 

Malwarebytes discovered that the next malicious domains are related to this menace:

• Longlakeweb [dot] com
• Chalomannoakhali [dot] com
• Jaminzaidad [dot] cm
• Royaltrustrbc [dot] com

The AMOS stealer might be recognized utilizing the next indicators:

• 4cb531bd83a1ebf4061c98f799cdc2922059aff1a49939d427054a556e89f464
• be634e786d5d01b91f46efd63e8d71f79b423bfb2d23459e5060a9532b4dcc7b

defend in opposition to this malware menace

Safety admins or IT execs ought to maintain the next in thoughts to guard workers from ClearFake and Atomic Stealer:

• Hold your group’s internet safety instruments updated.
• Remind workers to not obtain purposes from untrusted websites. Mac customers ought to obtain purposes solely from the Mac App Retailer or company-approved areas.
• Talk clearly about anticipated browser updates and different software updates.