Any Mac user under the impression that their machines are 100 % secure will be surprised to learn that one of the most prevalent pieces of Windows malware has now been affirm to course on macOS .

control Pointsecurity investigator report , in fact , that the XLoader malware has been usable in a Mac translation for some fourth dimension .

“ With some 200 million users operate macOS in 2018 ( as account by Apple ) , this is definitely a hopeful new market for the malware to come in , ” the researchers write .

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XLoader is a comparatively Modern edition of the infamous Formbook , a program used to slip login certification , record keystrokes , and download and execute files , as directed by the controlling waiter . It ’s one of the most wide - reaching pieces of malware on Windows computers : according toAnyRun Malware Trends Tracker , it was the fourth most rife malware family in 2020 . And now Mac owners take to be concerned too .

Check Point stresses , however , that XLoader on PC and Mac should not be confuse withXLoader for Android , which is a separate piece of software first spotted in 2019 .

A server with the Mac version of XLoader can be let at a cost of $ 49 ( rough £ 36 ) per calendar month , and fit in to surety researchers , hacker from 69 countries have taken up the offer . The most gravely affected country is the US , reportsBleeping Computer .

For peace of head , we advocate instal a reputable cortege of antimalware software program . Readbest Mac antivirusfor our recommendations;Intego Mac Internet Security X9is the product that ’s top of our rankings .

We have a terminated list of the virus and malware that have appeared on Macs . Read : listing of Mac virus and malware .

This article originally appeared onMacworld Sweden . Translation and additional coverage by David Price .