Macbook and iMac owners have been warned about new ‘ransomware’ software that locks them out of their files until they pay almost £300.
KeRanger, a malware infecting the usually virus-resistant brand, lies dormant for three days before locking off files from the computer user and demanding a ransom for them to be unlocked.
Users are being charged one bitcoin – worth approximately £280 – to receive control of the files again.
Security researchers at Palo Alto Networks are claiming that KeRanger is the “first fully functional ransomware seen on the OS X platform”.
The virus was found inside popular software Transmission, with users who downloaded version 2.9 of the software on Friday March 4 receiving the ransomware.
The issue has been reported to Apple, who have revoked the digital certificate which allowed the installation of the software. Transmission have removed the download from their website.
Palo Alto Networks’ intelligence director Ryan Olson told Reuters: “This is the first one in the wild that is definitely functional, encrypts your files and seeks a ransom.”
Users who are worried that they have downloaded the infected file are being advised to download the updated Transmission version 2.92 from the official website, which will automatically remove the malware file.