14 DAY TRIAL // Mac OS X malware is on the rise, with recent research showing that there's been five times more malware detected in 2015 (948 malware strains) than in all the previous five years combined (180).
Bit9 + Carbon Black researchers have arrived at this conclusion after having spent ten weeks collecting and analyzing Mac malware samples.
Their experience helped the company provide an overview of recent Mac malware distribution trends.
Mac malware on the rise, sophistication level remains low
One of the key findings of their research is the fact that, despite growing in numbers, Mac malware does not feature the same level of sophistication as Windows malware does.
According to Bit9 + Carbon Black data, while there are seven ways to achieve persistence on Mac computers, most of the samples they've analyzed were using just one method.
This practice allows easy detection by antivirus solutions, but also points to the fact that Mac malware creators are either low in numbers or don't have the expertise to create more advanced threats.
The seven persistence techniques seen by Bit9 + Carbon Black are LaunchAgents, LaunchDaemons, cron jobs, login items, browser plugins, StartUpItems, and binary infections. The researchers have not specified which of these was the most detected in active malware.
Most of the detected malware is less dangerous adware
Malwarebytes, a known cyber-security vendor, has also published an in-depth article on this subject, where it semi-contests the Bit9 + Carbon Black study.
While Malwarebytes says that new "dangerous" malware families have not appeared in numbers as big as in 2012, the report is correct in its own right because it includes the rising trend of Mac adware, which technically can be included under the umbrella term of malware.
So the conclusion is that Mac malware is on the rise, but it's not causing the same damage as it did in previous years.
You can get the full Bit9 + Carbon Black malware report if you want to read more about the findings and the study's methodology.
