Cybersecurity firm Group-IB has discovered the first version of the trojan that was created to target iPhones. Notably, this malware is focusing on attacking the devices of users in Vietnam and Thailand.
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The Trojan is called GoldPickaxe. Hackers spread it on iOS through the TestFlight platform - a tool created by Apple to help developers distribute unofficial (beta) applications by sending a link to a few users to install, before releasing it on the AppStore for everyone. With TestFlight, developers can invite up to 10,000 testers to install their beta application.
GoldPickaxe can collect information such as SMS messages, FaceID, identification data... With this type of collected information, the hacker's goal is to attack and withdraw money from bank accounts and financial applications.
According to Group-IB, after Apple removed this trojan from TestFlight, hackers switched to using a distribution method through management software (MDM), often used to manage devices in businesses.
Regarding the appearance of the first trojan attacking Vietnamese iOS users, talking to PV VietNamNet, Mr. Vu Ngoc Son, Technology Director, Vietnam National Cyber Security Technology Company - NCS said that in reality, the risk of infection of the GoldPickaxe trojan is not high. The reason is that it is very difficult for normal users to install it using TestFlight or MDM, usually only Testers or company phones with administrators to operate on behalf of users can install applications.
Therefore, if hackers want to install software in the above two ways, they will have to "guide" the victim through many steps, and the chance of success will be low. In fact, if they want to attack iOS users, hackers often choose to exploit vulnerabilities in the zero-click or one-click way, which means hackers will not require users to do much.
According to Mr. Vu Ngoc Son, to prevent this, users should absolutely not install applications from unreliable sources, only install from Apple's official application store, the AppStore.
(Source: Vietnamnet)
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