Recent Apple Ransomware Shows The Importance Of Using Different Passwords

The most recent Ransomware that targeted mostly users of Apple products in Australia and New Zealand is probably one of the best examples of why people should have different passwords for different accounts online. A few days ago, Apple product users in Australia and New Zealand, specifically those using iPhones, iPads and Macs were greeted with a message on their homescreens saying that their…

The most recent Ransomware that targeted mostly users of Apple products in Australia and New Zealand is probably one of the best examples of why people should have different passwords for different accounts online.

A few days ago, Apple product users in Australia and New Zealand, specifically those using iPhones, iPads and Macs were greeted with a message on their homescreens saying that their devices were hacked by a certain Oleg Pliss and that they are required to pay a ransom somewhere between $50 and $100 in order for their devices to be unlocked.

At the moment, there isn’t a clear explanation on what had caused the devices to be open to the vulnerability especially since the attack was mostly concentrated in a specific region and other Apple consumers in other parts of the globe weren’t affected.

According to ESET’s Senior Research Fellow David Harley, a possible explanation was that the attack might have used passwords and other login information from security breaches on other sites that happened in the past. He also added that their research team did not find anyone in Australia or New Zealand who activated Apple’s 2-factor authentication that received the ransomware.

"At ESET we are yet to come across an instance where someone has paid the ransom demand, but there's no reason to assume that the criminal would actually restore the victim's access to the affected device(s).  So I guess it begs the question – even if you pay, will the hacker give you back your digital assets stored on the device?”

So there you have it. If you haven’t activated two-step authentication on your device, now is probably the right time. For those who have been affected already, you might want to bring your device into an Apple Store or contact Apple care to have your unit fixed. Or if you’re a bit of a tech savvy you can erase your device and reset its password using recovery mode.

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