Apple fixed the issue in macOS Monterey 12.0.1 and paid the student $100,000 as a reward. The vulnerability enabled hackers to gain control of a Mac user’s camera. In 2021, a student called Ryan Pickren identified a dangerous vulnerability relating to MacBooks which he reported to Apple. The other affected WebKit, the underlying technology of the Safari web browser. One of the software weaknesses affected the kernel, which is the deepest layer of the operating system. Apple had received credible reports that hackers were abusing the vulnerabilities to attack users. In 2022, Apple users were advised to update their MacBooks (and iPhones and iPads) immediately to guard against two security vulnerabilities that allowed attackers to take complete control of their devices. Whilst MacBook hacking is relatively rare, there have been documented instances of successful attacks. While Apple is usually quick to respond to vulnerabilities, there have been instances where Apple has been criticized for being slow, allowing attackers to continue exploitation of these vulnerabilities and leaving users unprotected. When these are identified by security researchers – or white hat hackers – they usually inform Apple to allow the company to patch the vulnerability before it is exploited. These vulnerabilities are known as back doors or zero day vulnerabilities. However, despite these safeguards, sometimes hackers detect security vulnerabilities that can be used to exploit Macs. Together, these security features present formidable obstacles for Mac hackers. Apple’s integrated antivirus XProtect, which aims to detect and block malware from running.The Secure Enclave features of the M1and M2 series of chips, and the T1 and T2 chip, such as encryption and secure boot.When you try to run or install software from outside the App Store, Gatekeeper will verify it and ask whether you wish to proceed or not. Gatekeeper, which makes sure only software from trusted sources is allowed to run on your Mac.In recognition of the risk, Apple has made considerable efforts to make it difficult for hackers to gain access to Macs. This makes Windows users a more lucrative target but does not mean that Mac users are immune from risk. Cybercriminals are mainly motivated by money, which means they usually focus their efforts where there is greatest opportunity for financial gain. As of 2022, Windows had a global market share of 76% in the operating systems for the desktop market, compared to about 15% for macOS. One of the biggest reasons why Windows PCs are more frequently targeted than MacBooks is market share. The truth is that Macs can be hacked, and they are not immune to malware threats. While Macs may not be compromised as frequently as Windows PCs, there have been various examples of hackers successfully targeting Macs, from fake programs to vulnerability exploits. It’s often said that Macs can’t be hacked but unfortunately, this isn’t true.
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