Mac Users Attacked Again by Fake Adobe Flash Update. Posted on April 12th, 2016 by Graham Cluley. Mac users are once again being urged to exercise caution when installing updates to Adobe Flash Player, after a fake update was discovered infecting computers. Jan 24, 2020 Our website provides a free download of Adobe Flash Player 32.0.0.303 for Mac. The Adobe Flash Player installer is commonly called installflashplayerosx.dmg. The bundle identifier for Adobe Flash Player for Mac is com.adobe.flashplayer.installmanager. Our antivirus scan shows that this Mac download is virus free.
Macs are not immune to malware, but they are pretty well-protected. By default, macOS won’t allow unrecognized apps to be installed, and it needs the user to agree to override this. Even when they are installed, sandboxing limits the damage that can be done, which is why most Mac malware is actually adware – annoying but not damaging.
A common way for attackers to get malware onto a Mac is to disguise it as something else, to trick technically naive users into installing it. Fake installers for Adobe Flash Player are particularly favored, and Malwarebytes has found a variant that’s nastier than usual …
Usually, software like Malwarebytes can search for and remove malware automatically. But a new version of Crossrider adware has a new trick to protect itself from removal, as the company’s blog explains.
The malware changes the homepage in both Safari and Chrome, and doesn’t allow you to change it back again.
After removing Advanced Mac Cleaner, and removing all the various components of Crossrider that have been littered around the system, there’s still a problem. Safari’s homepage setting is still locked to a Crossrider-related domain, and cannot be changed.
It turns out that this is caused by a configuration profile installed on the system by the adware. Configuration profiles provide a means for IT admins in businesses to control the behavior of their Macs. These profiles can configure a Mac to do many different things, some of which are not otherwise possible.
In the case of this Crossrider variant, the configuration profile that is installed forces both Safari and Chrome to always open to a page on chumsearch[dot]com. This also prevents the user from changing that behavior in the browser’s settings.
Even tracking it down in Profiles is tricky.
This profile installs with an identifier of com.myshopcoupon.www, which is not visible in System Preferences. However, the profile can definitely be identified by scrolling through the details and looking for references to chumsearch[dot]com.
Once you’ve found it, you can then delete it by clicking in the profile (in this case showing up as AdminPrefs) and then clicking the minus button below to remove it. Once this is done, you’ll be able to restart and change your homepage.
Some would argue that the real thing is bordering on malware given the frequency of security issues found in Flash. Safari even disables it by default. Very few websites these days require the platform, and I argued last year that it is time for Flash to die.
Check out the blog for more details.
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A decade-old Windows malware trojan wormed its way into the macOS ecosystem, complete with a signed (likely stolen) Apple developer certificate. The exploit appears as an Adobe Flash Player installer. Once permission is granted, it hides itself deep inside macOS folders. Its certificate has already been revoked by Apple, but it's good to be aware of your enemies.
According to Fox-IT, Snake, a malware framework that has been infecting Windows software since 2008, and more recently Linux, is now targeting Mac.
Now, Fox-IT has identified a version of Snake targeting Mac OS X.As this version contains debug functionalities and was signed on February 21st, 2017 it is likely that the OS X version of Snake is not yet operational.Fox-IT expects that the attackers using Snake will soon use the Mac OS X variant on targets.
Snakes are dangerous and here's why
Similar to the Dok trojan that we heard about earlier this week, Snake popped up with an authenticated developer certificate, which means the Mac's built-in security system, Gatekeeper, would consider it legit and allow the installation process to complete.
It's important to note that Apple has already revoked this fake or stolen developer certificate, so Gatekeeper will block it. However, there is still a slight chance of someone downloading Snake by accident if they've found it through dubious channels. Malwarebytes explains:
Fortunately, Apple revoked the certificate very quickly, so this particular installer is no further danger unless the user is tricked into downloading it via a method that doesn't mark it with a quarantine flag (such as via most torrent apps).
How Snake slithers into your Mac
Just like most malware attacks, Snake doesn't just magically appear on your Mac one day. There isn't someone shooting corrupted files through your ethernet cable directly into your software. Snake has to be welcomed into your operating system by you.
Think of it is a vampire. If you don't invite it into your home, it can't attack you.
The file, named Install Adobe Flash Player.app.zip, will appear to be an Adobe Flash installer (Say what you will about Flash, but there are still a lot of people that have to use it for school or work). From Malwarebytes:
If the app is opened, it will immediately ask for an admin user password, which is typical behavior for a real Flash installer. If such a password is provided, the behavior continues to be consistent with the real thing.
Interestingly, once the installation is complete, Flash is actually installed on the Mac, making it even more difficult to tell that it's a trojan.
How you can protect yourself against Snake
As noted above, the fake/stolen developer certificate that allowed Snake to get a pass from Gatekeeper has already been revoked, so it's likely that, even if you download the zip file and try to open the app, your built-in security program will say, 'Nope Dope!'
But to refresh best practices, if you receive an email with an attachment at all, do some due diligence to make sure it's from a legitimate source. Check the sender address to make sure it is from an address you recognize. Click on the sender's name to view the email address it was sent from to make sure it's not a spoofed email. If you're still unsure, confirm with the sender by texting, calling or sending a separate email asking if the attachment is legit.
Specific to the Snake trojan, avoid downloading any zip files with the name Install Adobe Flash Player.app.zip.
What to do if Snake already bit you
Do you like my snake puns?
If you think you might have managed to accidentally install the Snake trojan onto your Mac, you can find and delete the following files:
- /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.update.plist
- /Library/Scripts/installd.sh
- /Library/Scripts/queue
- /var/tmp/.ur-*
- /tmp/.gdm-socket
- /tmp/.gdm-selinux
Next, delete the stolen/fake signed Apple Developer certificate.
- Launch Finder.
- Select Applications.
- Open your Utilities folder.
- Double-click on Keychain Access.
- Select the certificate named Adobe Flash Player installer with the signed certificate issued to Addy Symonds.
- Right or Control + click on the Certificate.
- Select Delete Certificate from the drop down options.
- Select Delete to confirm that you want to delete the certificate.
Lastly, change your administrator password to ensure that you're backdoor is rekeyed so the hackers can't get back in.
Adobe Flash Player Dmg Virus Mac Pro
Remember best practices for staying safe
It is unlikely, at this point, that Snake will slither through your Mac's backdoor. For one, Apple has revoked the certificate, which makes it nearly impossible to make it through the installation process without you knowing about it.
To reiterate, don't open attachments from unknown sources. Double check the sender email address to make sure it is not spoofed. Don't open suspicious-looking files or give administrator permission to unknown programs. You can protect yourself from attacks if you stay safe.
If you do end up with malware on your Mac, take a moment to relax and know that everything will be O.K. You can remove malware on your own, but if it seems too difficult for you to tackle, you can talk to Apple support. Someone will be able to help you.
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