Potential malware in iPhone messages

According to the latest analysis by Kaspersky, a world- famous security software distributor and manufacturer, a malware is spreading on iPhones. This malware attacks iPhone devices running iOS 15.7 through the iMessage application. The scary thing is that it can be spread between devices without user interaction.

Specifically, Kaspersky's research team discovered some suspicious behavior of a series of iOS devices. Therefore, they tracked iPhone user activities using offline backups on the device to circumvent Apple's security regulations.

They eventually discovered that the malware attacks users when they receive a text message with a suspicious attachment. The vulnerability takes advantage of a weakness in the device, triggering the malicious code without the user having to do anything. The malware then continues to connect to the command-and-control server (C&C).

The server would download a sophisticated advanced persistent threat (APT) platform to deliver malware to the target computer, taking control of the iOS device. The attack would then delete the malicious message and secretly spread the exploit to hide inside the device.

Potential malware in iPhone messages - 1 — Security risks when texting on iPhone. Photo: MacWorld.

Kaspersky says the malware only targets iPhones running iOS 15.7 or earlier. If you've updated to iOS 16 or later, your device should be safe. According to Apple Insider, the suspicious malware toolkit can't survive for long due to the closed ecosystem of iOS. However, devices can still be reinfected with the malware after rebooting.

Additionally, when transferring data from one device to another, the iTunes backup will still contain the malware, continuing to attack the next device. Experts at Kaspersky said the best way to avoid this malware is to update to iOS 16 or higher.

Users go to the Settings app > General > Software Update. Here, the screen will display the currently installed iOS version and indicate whether an update is available. You click Update to install the latest iOS version.

In addition, users can also turn off the automatic message preview feature to prevent suspicious content from spreading on the device. Go to the Settings app > Messages > Show preview and select No to turn off message content preview on the lock screen and notification center.

Potential malware in iPhone messages - 2 — Users need to be careful when receiving strange iPhone messages. Photo: Fox News.

You should also avoid clicking on strange links on iMessage, especially if they come from an untrusted source. These links will lead to websites or download files that contain security vulnerabilities to the user's device. You should be careful when receiving text messages or file attachments, avoid downloading strange files because they may contain malware.

Another tip to avoid hackers from infiltrating your iPhone is to install anti-virus software on your device. This software will prevent your device from clicking on any suspicious links or files sent via messaging apps.

Antivirus software can also detect and remove malware that has been installed on the device, warn users about phishing emails and ransomware.

(Source: Zing News)

Useful
Emotion
Creative
Unique

Source