How to Avoid the Most Popular Mac Malware, Shlayer
According to a recent investigation by Kaspersky Lab, the Shlayer malware, which deploys the Any Search bar on a victim’s computer using fake Adobe Flash updates, is the most popular malware for Mac. Ars Technica has a detailed analysis of the investigation that is worth reading, but you should know an easy way to protect your Mac from Shlayer (and tons of other malware as well).
How to Prevent Malware Shlayer Attacks
The easiest way to avoid Schleier is to get smarter about what you are clicking on.
Of course, most of the ads that deploy malware and adware can be bypassed with an ad- blocking browser or content-blocking extensions , and antivirus or antivirus software will detect threats before installing them and remove malware from your Mac if you: I already got infected. At this stage, you do not need to rely on additional software to identify potential malware attacks masquerading as Flash Player updates, video plug-ins, or pirated content.
Shlayer itself may be a few years old, but classic malware installation uses fake Flash Player downloads to install junk you don’t need. Seriously, this is one of the oldest methods of deploying malware. Additionally, Flash has largely been ditched by web developers and will soon lose legacy support in Chrome and other web browsers.
There is no reason to install, update, or use Flash Player to access online content in 2020, with very rare exceptions – and no, none of those exceptions include watching illegal streaming of sports events or leaked movies. If you need to download Flash, download it directly from Adobe . Nowhere else.
I could see myself tricked by malware attacks when streaming and rental services did not exist, but now most of the content can be easily accessed through cheap and legal means. So if you are asked to update your Flash player or install software to watch an NBA game, download “free” pirated software, access leaked nude photos of celebrities, or whatever, this is a 99.999% fake link to be installed malware on your computer. Worse, you probably won’t even get what you originally tried to download. Indeed, an insult to injury.