Ransomware is now targeting Apple Mac users with a new piece of malware known as "KeRanger".

The malware just appeared on Friday being distributed via a tainted copy of a popular program known as Transmission, which is used to transfer data through the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file sharing network. When users downloaded version 2.90 of Transmission, which was released on Friday, their Macs were infected with the ransomware.

An Apple representative said the company had taken steps over the weekend to prevent further infections by revoking a digital certificate that enabled the rogue software to install on Macs.

The malware is designed to stay dormant for three days before it starts to encrypt files and demand a ransom. The ransom amount is 1 bitcoin, or about $400.

Palo Alto Threat Intelligence Director Ryan Olson said that the malware victims whose machines were compromised but not cleaned up could start losing access to data on Monday, which is three days after the virus was loaded onto Transmission's site.

Source: Reuters