Technology World! Apple users targeted in first known Mac ransomware campaign

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) customers were targeted by hackers within the weekend in the primary effort against Macintosh computers using a pernicious form of applications called ransomware, research workers with Palo Alto Networks Inc (PANW.N) told Reuters on Sunday.

Ransomware, among the fastest-growing forms of cyber threats, encrypts information on infected machines, then usually requests users to pay ransoms in difficult-to-track digital monies to get a digital key to allow them to recover their information.

Security specialists estimate that ransoms complete countless millions of dollars per year from such cyber criminals, who usually target users of Microsoft Corp’s (MSFT.O) Windows operating system. Palo Alto Risk Intelligence Director Ryan Olson said the “KeRanger” malware, which appeared on Friday, was the primary performance ransomware assaulting Apple’s Mac computers.”

This is the first one in the wild that’s certainly practical, encrypts your files and seeks a ransom,” Olson said in a telephone interview.