How does this malware get installed?
Mac malware lies in wait for YOU to start a vid sesh...
Mac malware could piggy-back on your legitimate webcam sessions - yep, the ones you've initiated - to locally record you without detection, a leading security researcher warns. Patrick Wardle, a former NSA staffer who heads up research at infosec biz Synack, outlined the vulnerability together with counter-measures he’s …
COMMENTS
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Thursday 6th October 2016 14:56 GMT Anonymous Coward
Pre-infected Devices
You have to wonder how many pre-infected 'new' devices are sent out by the likes of online retailers Amazon etc, just based on the address details that device is been sent to.
Known target orders new device from Amazon, Amazon cross checks this to GCHQ/NSA watch list, if match, pre-infected 'new' Apple Macbook etc sent to said address.
Something to thing about...
Tim Cook says why distinguish between Security and Privacy. Can't we have both? An example of both. (Don't down vote me for this, I'm just putting it out there, how said techniques can been used)
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Thursday 6th October 2016 17:18 GMT SeanDinfo
Smaller pieces of tape
So here is a thought for people who tape over their cameras, perhaps you should use a smaller piece of tape so that you can see the LED. If you are infected with something that does not use this piggybacking technique with tape in place you have no easy way of seeing if the camera is on. It is a common design fault in most of the commercial sliding covers as well.
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Thursday 6th October 2016 20:29 GMT DNTP
Re: Smaller pieces of tape
I put transparent tape over my camera. It gives me all the advantages of taping over the camera but still lets me do video chat without having to remove the tape. And as a bonus I can still see if the LED lights up or not.
Sometimes I randomly feel a vague sense of unease like something invisible is watching me, but I have a really low Wisdom score so I always fail that check.
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Friday 7th October 2016 08:11 GMT 9Rune5
The Zuckertape
I have no interest in looking at Mark Zuckerberg. And if I did, may I remind everyone that images of him can readily be found using Google's image search.
However, I would not mind sitting in on some of those meetings he carry his laptop too. I do not require a video feed, the _audio_ will suffice plenty for my insider trading needs.
Last time I checked, there is no cute led light when the mic goes live.
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Sunday 9th October 2016 08:45 GMT heyrick
Re: Typical
Because malware on Windows is as old add the hills while Mac was often touted as being the option that just isn't affected by stuff like that. False sense of security. I said it a decade ago, that Apple/Linux/etc are not invulnerable. They are more secure and their market share didn't make them an easy target. That's not the same as being invulnerable. And now that more and more people are using devices that aren't Windows boxes, their market share is growing, they are becoming more attractive as malware sources and...holes are being picked. Because they are more secure, they are harder, but they are not invulnerable.
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