Security researchers at Kaspersky Labs have discovered a new virus, named MaControl.B, which can be used by hackers to take control of compromised Apple Mac computers.
According to the researchers, the virus can infect both PowerPC and x86 Macs, allowing a command and control server located in China “to list files, transfer files and generally, run commands on the infected machine”.
The researchers have described the new virus as being an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attack believed to be aimed at supporters of Uyghur independence and other Chinese dissidents.
An APT attack is where a government or other large entity devotes significant resources to persistently target a single entity or group.
The news comes after hacked WordPress blogs were used to infect over 600,000 Apple Macs with a virus named Flashback earlier this year.
After the Flashback virus was detected, Apple removed claims that its Mac computers are safer than Windows PCs from its website.
Andrew Sadauskas is a former journalist at SmartCompany and a former editor of TechCompany.
