New malware found on MacOS systems, including the new M1 ARM64 architecture

Security company, Red Canary, reported in mid-February that it had come across a strain of macOS malware that used a LaunchAgent to execute. While this in itself was nothing new, it was found that this piece of malware did not exhibit similar behaviors to what was expected from the usual adware that was targeting macOS. Even more important, is the fact that it targets the new Apple M1 ARM64 architecture, which signifies that this is not just a regular strain but potentially a sophisticated piece of malware. The code name for this malware is “Silver Sparrow.”

According to the author of the report, “though we haven’t observed Silver Sparrow delivering additional malicious payloads yet, its forward-looking M1 chip compatibility, global reach, relatively high infection rate, and operational maturity suggest Silver Sparrow is a reasonably serious threat, uniquely positioned to deliver a potentially impactful payload at a moment’s notice.” Basically, the malware is sophisticated and needs to be taken as a serious threat.

At the time of writing this article, almost 40K systems have been infected worldwide. The best way to protect against any form of malware is to be very careful about clicking on links you are unsure about as well as ensuring you have good, up-to-date malware protection. While there are multiple ways for a system to be infected, the two main methods of spreading malware are through clicking on compromised links in an email as well as not having a system that is up-to-date with the latest security patches. This is irrelevant of what operating system you use (macOS, Windows, Linux, Android) or smart device, be it a cell phone, tablet, PC or any smart device that can access a network, internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi.

If you need help securing your systems or determining what needs to be done in your environment, TRK Technology is here to help. Just send us your details through the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible. And if this is an emergency, don’t hesitate to call us any time of the day.