APP STORE SUFFERS MAJOR MALWARE INFECTION

...BUT EXPERTS SAY NO REAL DAMAGE WAS DONE. Apple’s App Store experienced its rst major attack recently, as a tainted version of the Cupertino company’s developer tools led to over , malware-infected apps slipping past its rigorous app review and submission process. The infected apps, which originate mostly from China, were created using XcodeGhost, a counterfeit version of Apple’s app creation software. Due to China’s strict internet ltering policies, legitimate app developers in the country are routinely forced to nd alternative domestic sources for their developer tools. While these developers thought they were using a legitimate version of Xcode, they instead ended up with something far more malicious. Apple has already removed the infected apps, including the Chinese build of Angry Birds , stating that they “are working with the developers to make sure they’re using the proper version of Xcode to rebuild their apps.“The malicious code works by compromising the app user’s privacy, leaking their personal information to hackers. Thankfully, Ryan Olson, Palo Alto Networks’ director of threat intelligence, has stated that no real damage was done.