WireLurker Virus Infects iOS Devices Through Connection With Infected Mac Computers

It was previously – and popularly – deemed that mostly Windows PCs can get viruses but it looks like someone has found a way to infect many Macs and iPhones with malware. Researchers are describing the virus to be "the biggest scale" malware they have ever seen. The virus is dubbed the WireLurker and targets Mac computers as well as iPhones and iPads through USB cable connections.

Once the virus infects a Mac or an iPhone/iPad, it will begin installing malicious apps and start spreading to other devices it connects to. The virus was discovered by experts at the Palo Alto Networks where they wrote down their findings in a research paper.

"We believe that this malware heralds a new era in attacking Apple's desktop and mobile platforms," lead researcher Claud Xiao explained. "It is only the second known malware that attacks iOS devices through OS X via USB and is the first malware to automate generation of malicious iOS applications, through binary file replacement."

WireLurker starts by infecting Mac OS computers through malicious files or online links. The virus then monitors any iOS devices the Mac syncs to, where it infects the said devices when it is connected to the Macs through a USB. Once in the mobile device, it starts installing malicious apps. From there, the virus is able to steal information from any device it infects.

The virus is currently only concentrated in China as the malware originates from a Chinese third-party app store called Maiyadi however, there is a chance that the virus might spread to other countries. Experts suggest that iOS device and Mac owners only download apps from the official App store to curb any chance of the infection from spreading.

Experts also advise keeping device software up-to-date and refrain from connecting to an unknown and unsafe computer.