Be warned: this is why malware on the Mac will become an increasing problem in the coming years.
Malware on the Mac is a growing problem
A report from cybersecurity website Moonlock warns of the increasing spread of advanced malware for the Mac, which is created using AI (Artificial Intelligence). Moonlock investigated how publicly available tools such as ChatGPT allow hackers to bypass technical barriers and thus produce malicious software more quickly.
According to the report, the barrier to entry is now lower than it has ever been. AI has become a new ally for cybercriminals looking to launch macOS-targeted campaigns. Moonlock explains that the rise of malware-as-a-service (MaaS) makes Mac malware more accessible to criminals than ever. Cheap MaaS options in particular significantly lower the barrier for many attackers.
macOS is no longer more secure
Until now, macOS has always been more secure because it was less susceptible to cyber attacks than Windows. According to the researchers, that idea is now really outdated. Moonlock’s advice now is to treat macOS like any other operating system. So it is important to keep the software up to date with security patches, only download programs from reliable sources and install good security software.
Mykhailo Pazyniuk, Malware Research Engineer at Moonlock, says: “We expect to see an increase in the variety of macOS attacks in 2025. In 2024, we’ve seen several attacks that attempted to bypass Apple’s security. The users themselves were the weakest link and therefore also the target. For that reason, relatively little effort has been made over the past year to find leaks in macOS itself.”
According to Pazyniuk, the market for MaaS and macOS attacks will continue to grow irrevocably in 2025, potentially offering more ways for antivirus software to remain undetected. Malware on the Mac is definitely something to keep a close eye on. If there are any developments, we will of course keep you informed!
Download the iPhoned app
