New macOS XCSSET Variant Targets Firefox with Clipper and Persistence Module

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered an updated version of a known Apple macOS malware called XCSSET that has been observed in limited attacks. "This new variant of XCSSET brings key changes related to browser targeting, clipboard hijacking, and persistence mechanisms," the Microsoft Threat...

XCSSET evolves again: Analyzing the latest updates to XCSSET’s inventory

Microsoft Threat Intelligence has identified yet another XCSSET variant in the wild that introduces further updates and new modules beyond those detailed in our March 2025 blog post. The XCSSET malware is designed to infect Xcode projects, typically used by software developers, and run while an...

New XCSSET malware adds new obfuscation, persistence techniques to infect Xcode projects

Microsoft Threat Intelligence has uncovered a new variant of XCSSET, a sophisticated modular macOS malware that infects Xcode projects, in the wild during routine threat hunting. Its first known variant since 2022, this latest XCSSET malware features enhanced obfuscation methods, updated...

New XCSSET Malware Variant Targeting macOS Notes App and Wallets

Microsoft warns Apple developers about a new XCSSET malware variant targeting macOS, posing security risks through stealthy infections…...

Microsoft Uncovers New XCSSET macOS Malware Variant with Advanced Obfuscation Tactics

Microsoft said it has discovered a new variant of a known Apple macOS malware called XCSSET as part of limited attacks in the wild. "Its first known variant since 2022, this latest XCSSET malware features enhanced obfuscation methods, updated persistence mechanisms, and new infection strategies,"...

XCSSET Malware Updates with Python 3 to Target macOS Monterey Users

The operators of the XCSSET macOS malware have upped the stakes by making iterative improvements that add support for macOS Monterey by upgrading its source code components to Python 3. "The malware authors have changed from hiding the primary executable in a fake Xcode.app in the initial version...

Nasty macOS Malware XCSSET Now Targets Google Chrome, Telegram Software

A malware known for targeting macOS operating system has been updated once again to add more features to its toolset that allows it to amass and exfiltrate sensitive data stored in a variety of apps, including apps such as Google Chrome and Telegram, as part of further "refinements in its tactics...

Updated XCSSET Malware Targets Telegram, Other Apps

In our last update on the XCSSET campaign, we updated some of its features targeting latest macOS 11 Big Sur. Since then, the campaign added more features to its toolset, which we have continually monitored. We have also discovered the mechanism used to steal information from various apps, a...

Apple Patches Zero-Day Flaw in MacOS that Allows for Sneaky Screenshots

Apple has patched a critical bug in macOS that could be exploited to take screenshots of someone’s computer and capture images of their activity within applications or on video conferences without that person knowing. Apple addressed the vulnerability—discovered by researchers at enterprise...

Apple‌ Issues Patches to Combat Ongoing 0-Day Attacks on macOS, tvOS

Apple on Monday rolled out security updates for iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and Safari web browser to fix multiple vulnerabilities, including an actively exploited zero-day flaw in macOS Big Sur and expand patches for two previously disclosed zero-day flaws. Tracked as CVE-2021-30713, the zero-day...

This Week in Security News - April 23, 2021

XCSSET Quickly Adapts to Macs and Babuk Ransomware Gang Claims Decryptor Repaired...

Malware That Spreads Via Xcode Projects Now Targeting Apple's M1-based Macs

A Mac malware campaign targeting Xcode developers has been retooled to add support for Apple's new M1 chips and expand its features to steal confidential information from cryptocurrency apps. XCSSET came into the spotlight in August 2020 after it was found to spread via modified Xcode IDE project...

XCSSET Quickly Adapts to macOS 11 and M1-based Macs

This latest update details our new research on XCSSET, including the ways in which it has adapted itself to work on both ARM64 and x86x64 Macs...

Trojanized Xcode Project Slips MacOS Malware to Apple Developers

Cybercriminals are targeting Apple developers with a trojanized Xcode project, which once launched installs a backdoor that has spying and data exfiltration capabilities. Xcode is comprised of a suite of free, open software development tools developed by Apple for creating software for macOS, iOS...

Good old malware for the new Apple Silicon platform

Introduction A short while ago, Apple released Mac computers with the new chip called Apple M1. The unexpected release was a milestone in the Apple hardware industry. However, as technology evolves, we also observe a growing interest in the newly released platform from malware adversaries. This...

XCSSET Malware targets macOS by infecting Xcode developer projects

By Zara Khan The entry point of XCSSET malware is still unknown to researchers. This is a post from HackRead.com Read the original post: XCSSET Malware targets macOS by infecting Xcode developer projects...

Mac Users Targeted by Spyware Spreading via Xcode Projects

A campaign aimed at Mac users is spreading the XCSSET suite of malware, which has the capability to hijack the Safari web browser and inject various JavaScript payloads that can steal passwords, financial data and personal information, deploy ransomware and more. Infections are propagating via...