The latest malware threat is not targeting computers, but mobile devices. On Wednesday, September 2, 2015, news broke that more than 225,000 Apple accounts were victims of an iPhone data hack. Hackers hacked the account information using a malware program called KeyRaider.
Image Credit: Yutaka Tsutano / Foter / CC BY
KeyRaider is from China and has now made its way to 18 countries, including the United States. Previously, websites and apps in China had KeyRaider hidden in the software and it was used to hack data from jailbroken iPhones. Now it has expanded to the United States.
The data received from the hacks is not kept by the hackers, but offered as an app on iTunes that allows other people to download apps for free that they would normally have to pay for. The owner of the iPhone is forced to pay the bill while other users get paid apps for free.
Only jailbroken iPhones are the target of this malware program. Jailbreaking occurs when users are locked out of their iPhones or to personalize their iPhones to their liking by breaking security access points that have been restricted.
Once KeyRaider finds a jailbroken iPhone that has unintentionally installed this malware hidden in other apps and websites, the malware gives the iPhone owner’s iTunes App Store information to hackers who are monitoring the program. Hackers receive the iPhone ID, App Store username and password, information on App Store purchases and prevention from giving iPhone users access to their phones after the malware has done its work.
Those who have their iPhones hacked will either see unknown app purchases in their purchase history or their phone is locked and KeyRaider demands a ransom to get their data back. To prevent this from happening, it is important not to jailbreak an iPhone or purchase one that has been jailbroken.
