Security

M1-Specific Malware Detected

GoSearch22 became one of the first pieces of adware compiled specifically for Apple Silicon, showing that the M1’s new architecture was never going to remain.

Posted on24 Feb 2021
Reading Time1 min
GoSearch22 became one of the first pieces of adware compiled specifically for Apple Silicon, showing that the M1’s new architecture was never going to remain.
M1 Logo with Virus Overlay

The GoSearch22 adware introduces itself as a regular Safari browser extension. Once installed, however, it collects user data and offers a wide range of advertisements, such as banners, pop-ups, and links to random sites. Analysis of the threat reveals that GoSearch22 has attempted to mask itself by been signed with an Apple Developer ID earlier in November.

— Lidia Howler on Mac M1 Malware GoSearch22

So early in it’s adoption phase and malwares are already being detected on the platform.

In recent years, I have already been warning friends and family using the Mac family that viruses and malwares is something that we need to start worrying about for the Apple ecosystem.

Seems like this is all getting real very quickly now.