---
title: This Mac Malware Should Have Users Worried
description: This Mac Malware Should Have Users Worried
---

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# This Mac Malware Should Have Users Worried

This Mac Malware Should Have Users Worried

![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png) By Randy Hall Updated Jul 2024 3 min read Share [**](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2021/11/05/this-mac-malware-should-have-users-worried) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2021/11/05/this-mac-malware-should-have-users-worried&text=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EThis+Mac+Malware+Should+Have+Users+Worried%3C%2Fspan%3E) [**](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EThis+Mac+Malware+Should+Have+Users+Worried%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=https://blog.securafy.com/2021/11/05/this-mac-malware-should-have-users-worried)

![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)Researchers from Microsoft have reported the discovery of a new variant of macOS malware called WizardUpdate.

The new version should worry all Mac users because it has been upgraded to incorporate enhanced evasion and persistence tactics that will make it more difficult to track, locate and ultimately stop.

WizardUpdate is also known as UpdateAgent and it is based on code that is distributed via download repositories. That is where it masquerades as a legitimate software. Although the researchers found no direct indication of how this new variant is distributed it follows that the group behind the code would use similar if not outright identical techniques.

WizardUpdate has had a short but interesting history. It was first discovered in November 2020. In its earliest incarnation the code could do little more than collecting and exfiltrating basic system information. That proved to be but a simple test. Since its initial release WizardUpdate has seen numerous upgrades.

**The latest build includes the following capabilities:**

- To grant admin permissions to regular users
- To leverage existing user profiles to execute commands
- To modify PLIST files using PlistBuddy
- To bypass Gatekeeper by removing quarantine attributes from downloaded payloads
- To grab the full download history for infected Macs by enumerating LSQuarantineDataURL String using SQLite
- And to deploy secondary payloads downloaded from cloud infrastructure

**Microsoft had this to say about the newly discovered strain:**

*"UpdateAgent abuses public cloud infrastructure to host additional payloads and attempts to bypass Gatekeeper, which is designed to ensure that only trusted apps run on Mac devices, by removing the downloaded file's quarantine attribute."*

*"It also leverages existing user permissions to create folders on the affected device. It uses PlistBuddy **to create and modify Plists in LaunchAgent/ LaunchDeamon for persistence."*

WizardUpdate by any name is a scarily capable malware strain and Mac users should be on high alert.

Tagged Under IT Operations[Cybersecurity](https://blog.securafy.com/tag/cybersecurity)Business Continuity

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![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png)

About The Author

Randy Hall · CEO & Founder

Randy Hall is the CEO and Founder of Securafy, with decades of experience helping organizations make smarter, safer decisions about technology.

 A frequent speaker and instructor at national IT events, Randy has advised thousands of organizations, from startups and SMBs to large enterprises and U.S. government entities, on secure, practical technology adoption. He writes about the decisions business leaders are often expected to make without enough context, including cybersecurity, compliance, AI, cyber insurance, IT strategy, and business resilience.

 Outside the office, you’ll often find Randy on Lake Erie enjoying time on his 38-foot Chris-Craft.

**Writes about:** Cybersecurity strategy, compliance, AI security, business resilience, cyber insurance, SMB risk, IT leadership

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