Security researchers claimed to have discovered the first Apple iOS Trojan attack in a move to disrupt the communications of pro-democracy Hong Kong activists.
The virus, called Xsser mRat, is related to a similar type of virus found on Android devices, according to Lacoon Mobile Security.
Lacoon said Xsser mRat is related to Android spyware that has already infected devices in Hong Kong. The spyware is made to look like an app that will help coordinate Hong Kong protests, but instead launches an attack.
According to Lacoon, cross-platform attacks that target both Android and iOS devices are rare, which indicates that this attack may have been conducted by a very large organization or nation state.
When infected, the virus exposes nearly all information on iOS devices including SMS, email, and instant messages, and can also reveal location data, usernames and passwords, call logs and contact information.
The investigation into the attacks began last week after a fake Android app claiming to coordinate the Occupy Central movement. Activists had been receiving a link to the application over WhatsApp phishing messages from an unknown phone number saying, “Check out this Android app by Code4HK, group of activist coders, for the coordination of Occupy Central!”
In a press release, Lacoon said: “Cross-Platform attacks that target both iOS and Android devices are rare, and indicate that this may be conducted by a very large organization or nation state. The fact that this attack is being used [the] first iOS trojan linked to Chinese government cyber activity.”
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