Virus on Apple computers with mysterious message: "Hello world" - does the great damage follow?

Specialists discovered new malware on Apple computers.

The virus contains mysterious messages and puzzles security experts.

Munich - IT experts from the security company Red Canary have discovered a previously undiscovered type of malware, i.e. malware, on new Apple laptops.

They named her “Silver Sparrow”.

Every hour the software contacts a control server to receive any commands.

The mysterious thing about the virus, however, is the executing file, which simply displays these sentences: "Hello world" or "You did it".

According to the experts at Red Canary, this file can only be opened if the user deliberately searches for it and starts it. 

Apple Macbooks: Mysterious malware still in the test phase?

These mysterious messages could indicate that the malware is currently still in what is known as a “proof-of-concept” phase.

So the programmers of the software may still be in a test phase.

In any case, they have proven that they can create viruses even for the latest computers.

What also puzzles the experts is the built-in self-destruct mechanism.

This causes the malware to delete itself and its commands almost completely immediately.

Especially the new Apple computers with an M1 processor are affected.

Around 40,000 cases of infected Apple devices are now known - 1,000 of them in Germany.

The exact target of this virus continues to be a mystery to specialists.

So far, the software does not seem to pose a proven threat.

However, Red Canary's IT experts see the software as a serious threat.

"The compatibility with M1 processors, the global range, the operational readiness and the relatively high infection rate indicate a serious risk," said Tony Lambert of Red Canary.

Apple reacts against "Silver Sparrow"

To take action against the malware, Apple has recalled the digital certificates that the developers need to spread the malware.

As a result, users can no longer download the software.

As this case shows, Mac computers are not immune to harmful viruses either.

To protect yourself against such attacks, you should - even as a macOS user - install antivirus software on your device.