Mac users have long believed that their computers are immune to the malware and viruses that plague Windows PCs. While there is some plausibility to this idea, we shouldn’t get overconfident when it comes to Mac security, as there are exploits that criminals can use to break into your Mac and leave it as a wide-open door through which they can steal your data. or worse.
In this article, we’ll look at whether a Mac can be hacked, how to tell if your Mac has been hacked or if someone is spying on your Mac, and what you can do if your Mac is being accessed remotely. Here’s what you need to know and what you need to do.
Can Macs be hacked?
Apple has gone to great lengths to make it difficult for hackers to gain access to Mac computers. With the protections offered by Gatekeeper, Secure Enclave features for M1 and M2 series chips and T1 or T2 chips, as well as Apple’s built-in XProtect antivirus, hackers may find it too difficult to attack a Mac. We discuss this in more detail here: How secure is a Mac? and Q Do I need an antivirus program for my Mac?
However, from time to time, security vulnerabilities are discovered that can be used by hackers to break into Mac computers. These vulnerabilities are sometimes referred to as loopholes or zero-day vulnerabilities. When they are discovered by security researchers (or friendly hackers), they usually alert Apple in the hope that the company will quickly close the vulnerability, quickly – or within zero days – before it is exploited.
Such vulnerabilities, while rare, could allow an attacker to gain root access to your Mac.
Apple is usually quick to fix, but there have been instances where Apple has been criticized for being slow to respond to a threat once it has been identified.
For example, in 2019, researcher Filippo Cavallarin discovered a Gatekeeper vulnerability that he alerted Apple about. After not receiving a response from Apple within 90 days, he released the details of the vulnerability.
Back in 2018, the news was full of stories about Meltdown and Specter vulnerabilities that attacked vulnerabilities in Intel and ARM processors. The Guardian reported that Apple has confirmed that “all Mac systems and iOS devices are affected, but there are currently no known exploits affecting clients.” The risk was mitigated by operating system updates that closed open areas.
Most recently, Apple paid a student $100,000 after he discovered a dangerous Mac vulnerability and reported it to Apple. A vulnerability that could allow a hacker to take control of a Mac user’s camera was discovered by Ryan Pickren in July 2021 and patched by Apple in macOS Monterey 12.0.1 on October 25, 2021. More information here: A hacker can hijack any Apple webcam.
Apple is constantly busy fixing these security flaws as they arise. If a company releases a security update for macOS, it’s important to install it as soon as possible. You can set your Mac to automatically download and update by following these steps:
- Open System Preferences.
- Click “Software Update”.
- Select “Automatically update my Mac”.
Your Mac will now check for updates, download the update, and install it without any action.
Are Mac computers hacked?
This may be rare compared to Windows, but yes, there have been cases where hackers have gained access to Mac computers.
This can take many forms, and there are different types of Mac malware that have been found “in the wild” on Mac computers, as you can see from our roundup of the various threats affecting macOS: List of Mac Viruses, Malware, and Security Flaws . Malware has even been found on M1 Macs – read about Silver Sparrow and the first case of M1 Mac malware.
Below we look at the types that are more suitable for hacking Mac computers:
Cryptojacking: Here, someone is using your Mac’s CPU and RAM to mine cryptocurrency. If your Mac has slowed down, this could be the culprit.
Spyware: This is where hackers try to collect sensitive data about you, such as your login details. They can use keyloggers to record what you type and eventually get the information they need to log into your accounts. In one example, OSX/OpinionSpy spyware was stealing data from infected Macs and selling it on the dark web.
Ransomware: Some criminals use ransomware to extort money from you. In cases like KeRanger, hackers could encrypt files on Macs and then demand money to decrypt them. Luckily, security researchers identified KeRanger before it started infecting Macs, so it was eliminated before it became a serious threat.
Botnet: In this case, your computer becomes a remotely controlled spam machine. In the case of the OSX.FlashBack Trojan horse botnet, over 600,000 Macs.
Proof of concept: Sometimes a threat is not actually seen in the wild but is a proof of concept based on a loophole or vulnerability in Apple code. Although this is not such a serious threat, the problem is that if Apple does not close the vulnerability in time, criminals can take advantage of it. In one example, the Google Project Zero team developed an experimental version known as Buggy Cos that was able to access parts of macOS thanks to a bug in the macOS memory manager.
Port exploits: It is not always possible to be hacked due to some kind of malware loaded on the Mac. In some cases, Macs have been hacked after something was plugged into a port. It’s entirely possible that Macs can be hacked via USB and the Thunderbolt port – this is a good reason to always be careful about what you plug into your Mac or leave your Mac unattended. For example, in the checkm8 exploit, hackers could gain access to the T2 chip by plugging in a modified USB-C cable. Similarly, in the case of Thunderspy, a severe vulnerability in the Thunderbolt port could have given a hacker access to a Mac.
Can a Mac camera be hacked?
Once a hacker has access to your Mac, they may try to get information about you or use your Mac’s processing power for their own purposes in a variety of ways. As we mentioned above, in the case of spyware, a hacker might try to install a keylogger so that it can record what you type and look up your password. A hacker may also try to hack into your microphone or video camera.
In theory, this shouldn’t be possible: Since macOS Catalina launched in 2019, Apple has protected Mac users from exploits like this by making sure you have to give your permission before using a microphone or camcorder, or before screen recording can take place. . And if your camcorder is in use, you will always see a green light next to it. However, the example above, where Ryan Pickren alerted Apple to a vulnerability allowing a hacker to take control of a Mac user’s camera, suggests that Apple’s warning was not enough to prevent access to the camera.
A camera-related vulnerability has also been discovered that affected Mac users of the video conferencing service Zoom. In this case, hackers can add users to video calls without their knowledge and then activate their webcams but leave the lights off. This will allow any potential hackers (or law enforcement) to spy on your activities and you won’t know the camera is watching you. Zoom fixed the vulnerability, but only after it became public, when the person who discovered it reported that the vulnerability remained in place for three months after the company was confidentially informed of the risk. For more information, read: How to prevent a Mac webcam from being hacked.
Want to know if FaceTime is safe? Read Is Apple FaceTime Safe?
How to know if your Mac has been hacked
If you think your Mac has been hacked, there are several ways to find out. First of all, look for signs: Has your Mac slowed down? Is your internet connection painfully slow? Do the ads you see look smarter than usual? Have you noticed anything strange on your bank statements?
- If you think your account may have been hacked, check the haveibeenpwned.com website and enter your email address to see if it was involved in the data breach. If so, be sure to change your password! This does not mean that you have been hacked, but it is possible that if this information becomes available, you could be there.
- Another way to find out if some strange activity is going on is to check the Activity Monitor and specifically look at the network activity.
- You can also go to System Preferences > Sharing and check if suspicious individuals have access to anything.
- Your best bet is to run a scan of your system with some kind of security software that can check for any viruses or malware that may have entered your system. We have a roundup of the best antivirus apps for Mac recommending Intego as our preferred option.
You can also read our guide on how to remove virus from Mac.
How to protect your Mac from hackers
macOS is a very secure system, so there’s no need to panic, but if you want to reduce the chance of being hacked, there are a few things to do.
- The first is to try to download software only from the Mac App Store or manufacturers’ official websites.
- You should also avoid clicking on links in emails, in case they lead you to fake websites and malware.
- Do not use USB cables, other cables, or memory cards unless you are sure they are safe.
- When you are browsing the web in private or incognito mode.
- If you ever receive a ransomware request or a phishing email, don’t reply as all it does is confirm you exist.
- The other is to make sure you download updates for macOS as soon as they become available as they usually include security fixes. In fact, you can set your Mac to download such updates automatically. Turn on automatic updates in System Preferences > Software Update and click Automatically update my Mac.
- Finally, consider using a dedicated security software package. You’ll find our selection of current offerings in the best antivirus for Mac. Our top pick right now is Intego Mac Internet Security X9, but we also like McAfee Total Protection 2021 and Norton 360 Deluxe.
- You should also consider using a password manager, as this will allow you to have a few complicated login details for all your accounts without having to remember them. Here we recommend LastPass, 1Password and NordPass.
Feeling more secure? Find out more by reading helpful tips in the best Mac security settings.