Do Macs get viruses? The answer is yes – and AI-powered malware is a growing threat, a new report claims
- ChatGPT can be manipulated to create viruses and malicious code
- A report shows that some hackers are using it in the wild for Macs
- But ChatGPT may not be the devastating weapon some fear
The topic of whether Macs can get viruses — and if so, whether you should install antivirus software — is a controversial topic among Apple fans.
A new report from Mac security company Moonlock suggests the threat is now increasing due to AI-powered malware. But on the one hand, there are those who believe that antivirus apps are more hassle than they’re worth, slowing down your computer at a minimal threat level. On the other hand, there are those who call for caution in the changing world of hackers and virus makers.
It’s all a bit of a mess, and it can often be difficult to know which side to believe. But now that this new report sheds light on some of the tactics hackers use to victimize Mac users, could that all be about to change? Here’s our verdict.
The myth: Macs don’t get viruses
There has long been a belief that Macs don’t get viruses, with proponents claiming that a combination of common sense (don’t download torrents and pirated software, for example) and built-in macOS tools like Gatekeeper are enough to keep you protected from anything that comes your way comes.
There is some weight to these claims: Macs certainly go far fewer malware than Windows PCs, thanks to a combination of macOS’s powerful antivirus tools and Apple’s much lower market share, which is less attractive to potential attackers. But the idea that Macs are completely invulnerable to spyware, Trojan horses and other digital nasties is wide of the mark.
In fact, we’ve seen reports of Mac virus threats increasing rapidly in recent years, with malware writers sharpening their skills to target Apple fans. Even North Korean hackers are getting in on the action, and that’s the growing importance of macOS to threat actors.
With the simultaneous rise of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, there is notable concern among some that tools like ChatGPT will allow even novice hackers to create devastating malware variants that can bypass the most robust Mac defenses.
Now, one new report from Mac security company Moonlock seems to confirm some of these fears. Cases are cited of hackers creating working malware by simply asking an AI chatbot to start coding.
For example, Moonlock’s report includes messages posted by a hacker known as “barboris,” who mentioned code produced by ChatGPT on a malware forum. There, Barboris explained that they had little coding experience, but still managed to get ChatGPT to do their bidding with a little creative prodding.
But before we panic too much, ChatGPT isn’t quite the all-powerful malware creation tool it seems. As with any other experience using an AI chatbot, it can be prone to errors and garbled nonsense, which has the potential to ruin any would-be hacker’s day. If someone with no malware experience were to use ChatGPT to create a virus, it could be tricky to troubleshoot the issues and come up with something workable.
The risk of chatbot-generated malware remains relatively low at this time.
Martin Zugec, Bitdefender
I previously spoke to a range of security experts on this subjectand they were skeptical about ChatGPT’s ability to create effective malware. Chatbots have built-in guardrails to prevent humans from creating malware code, and according to Martin Zugec, the Technical Solutions Director at Bitdefender, if someone is relying on ChatGPT to create code for them, they probably don’t have the skills to get around it. guardrails.
Therefore, Zugec says, “the risk of chatbot-generated malware remains relatively low at this time.” Additionally, Zugec adds that “the quality of malware code produced by chatbots is typically low, making it a less attractive option for experienced malware writers who can find better examples in public code repositories.”
In other words, while Barboris might have been able to put together a virus using ChatGPT despite their limited hacking knowledge, a more experienced coder would likely get better results and more effective malware from public repositories and their own honed skills.
Still clear is It is possible for inexperienced hackers to code working viruses with little more than ChatGPT, a handful of effective clues, and a lot of patience. This is something we will have to keep a close eye on in the coming years.