This is the most dangerous malware for Mac to avoid

There is a false myth that Mac users are safe from all types of viruses on our computers, however, this has never been true, and it is becoming less and less. What is true is that malware affects Mac computers less than Windows computers, but despite this, threats have multiplied in recent years largely due to the increased popularity of Apple computers, and therefore also the growing interest of cyber criminals.

According to Panda Security, the number of threats affecting Apple Macs has quadrupled During the last years. Along with this conclusion, it has also developed a list of the greatest threats that, obviously, we must avoid.

Macs are not safe from malware

The volume of threats against Apple Macs it has quadrupled in recent years, from around 500 malicious programs detected in 2012 to more than 2200 in 2015, and the figure keeps going up. From Panda Labs they point to a very logical cause: Mac computers, as they are used by a greater number of people, also arouse greater interest from malware developers. It is a simple matter of profitability: what they invest in developing malware will be more profitable if it can affect a greater number of users.

Luis Corrons, director of Panda Labs, assures that “the myth that there are no viruses for Mac is history. In 2015 alone we have detected twice as much 'malware' for these operating systems as we detected a year earlier.

Main symptoms of an infected Mac

Much of this malware is deeply camouflaged, however, it is easy to at least suspect that something is wrong when our Mac "Begins to function excessively slowly" or when we realize "High CPU, memory, disk or network consumption"Corrons notes. That's when "you should suspect that your device might have been infected."

The most dangerous viruses for Mac

The Panda Security team has shared a list of the ten most dangerous Mac threats today. Remember that common sense is the best weapon so you should avoid clicking on suspicious email links, avoid installing apps from unofficial sites or better yet, download your apps exclusively from the Mac App Store.

The biggest threats for Mac users at the moment are, according to Panda Security, the following.

Wirelurker

Qualified as the most dangerous malware of all those detected in Panda Security. Although it only affects iOS devices, it spreads via USB and is capable of installing malicious apps and taking control of your iPhone or iPad.

Karanger

It is a "ransomware", that is, a malware capable of hijacking your Mac, leaving it completely useless until you agree to pay a ransom for it.

yontoo

It is an apparently harmless extension to download YouTube videos, which is installed in the browser to insert malicious advertising.

godgost

It is installed on your Mac through unofficial apps and is a Trojan with which they can steal all the information you have stored on your computer.

macvx

This is actually a PUP or Potentially Dangerous Program cataloged browser add-on that will flood your browser with ads.

Cointhief 2014

Another Trojan that installs malicious add-ons in the browser and steals the credentials of sites that support payment with bitcoins and / or dedicated to the exchange of bitcoins.

iworm 2014

It is a true "back door" that will serve up all your personal data to third parties.

Janicab

Malware that, through screens and audio recordings, takes over all your passwords to carry out Denial of Service attacks on other websites, hijack data, and so on.

laoshu

Through a false email that tells you that they have not been able to deliver a package, it will end up taking over your Mac.

macinstaller

It is an "old dog" among Mac users. It publishes advertising on legitimate sites that leads you to false ones where it informs you that your Mac is affected by a virus so you can install Mac Defender, a software that will take over all your data.