Kaspersky digital security firm has recorded a record number of phishing attacks targeting Apple devices this year. With the arrival of the new iPhone 11, as well as other equipment that can be launched by the end of 2019, these attacks are likely to grow even more.
So far Kaspersky has added 1.6 million phishing attacks focused on iOS and MacOS.
Phishing ≠ virus
Phishing attacks are different from viruses. They need not necessarily contain an infected file or link. Therefore, they can sometimes go unnoticed by antivirus apps. Phishing attacks attempt to simulate services in order to trick victims into providing their login or bank details.
In the first half of 2019, there was a 9% increase in phishig attacks on devices with Apple systems, compared to the same period in 2018.
Most scams reach users through pages or messages, passing through the company’s tech support or warning that the equipment could be seriously infected. The technique of threatening users by saying that their accounts could be blocked if the problem is not resolved forces them to hand over data that scammers can use to steal information and money.
Apple users may be more vulnerable
This kind of scam is not new to the internet. However, users of Apple systems have always been used to a safer platform than more popular ones, such as Windows and Android environments.
This extra sense of security makes them more susceptible to scamming because they believe they are clicking on legitimate links from Apple itself.
Kaspersky’s guidance is for Apple users to look at certain links more carefully and keep their devices up to date.
Apple Confirms $ 1 Million Prize for iPhone Hackers
Apple has aggressively increased the reward for hackers who find vulnerabilities in iPhones and Macs to as much as $ 1 million. It is for sure the biggest offer ever made by any major technology company for a bug search.
The prior amount was $ 200,000, and the program will be open to all researchers next semester. Previously, only those invited by the company were eligible for the reward.
Apple will launch a security breach search on Macs, which was confirmed on Thursday (1). And is also extending bug hunting on watchOS watches and the Apple TV device operating system. The announcements were made in Las Vegas at the Black Hat Conference, where Apple’s chief security engineer Ivan Krstić spoke about security systems for iOS and macOS.
The company also announced that bug hunters will receive “development devices.” That is, iPhones that allow the hacker to dig deeper into the iOS system. They can, for example, pause your processor and analyze what is happening to the information in memory. Krstić confirmed that the security search appliance program for iOS would work by application and should arrive next year.
$ 1 million for a hack
The $ 1 million will go to researchers who can find a kernel hack (the core of iOS). Without needing any clicks from the real owner of the iPhone. Another $ 500,000 will be given to those who encounter a “network attack that requires no user action.”. There is also a 50% bonus for hackers who find a weakness in the software before its release.
Apple is increasing those rewards thanks to the growing and lucrative privacy market. Where hackers sell the same information to governments for large sums.
Forbes learns that the cost of a single exploit; (software segment that uses vulnerabilities to control computers and smartphones) could reach $ 1.5 million. An exploit that targets Whatsapp where no user click is required, for example, can be sold to a government agency for such a value. One or two per year will be marketed from a group of 400 researchers focused on this type of hack.
Previously, a company called Zerodium talked about how much it would pay researchers before they passed their products on. In January, the company announced it would offer $ 2 million for a remote iPhone hack.
According to Krstić, bug hunting has been fruitful so far, with 50 serious flaws reported since 2016.
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