Maker of Sneaky Mac Adware Sends Security Researcher Cease-and-Desist Letters (zdnet.com)

Zack Whittaker, writing for ZDNet: The maker of a sneaky adware that hijacks a user's browser to serve ads is back with a new, more advanced version -- one that can gain root privileges and spy on the user's activities. News of the updated adware dropped Tuesday in a lengthy write-up by Amit Serper, principal security researcher at Cybereason. The adware, dubbed OSX.Pirrit, is still highly active, infecting tens of thousands of Macs, according to Serper, who has tracked the malware and its different versions for over a year. Serper's detailed write-up is well worth the read. [...] TargetingEdge sent cease-and-desist letters to try to prevent Serper from publishing his research. "We've received several letters over the past two weeks," Serper told ZDNet. "We decided to publish anyway because we're sick of shady 'adware' companies and their threats."

Comments

Re:Details?

[tattood]

from TFA:

In this report, the term installer refers to TargetingEdge’s main product - an installer that installs software like a video player or a PDF reader that’s downloaded from a site. These installers will install the downloaded software and the additional malware.

Re:Cease-and-Desist what, exactly?

[bloodhawk]

Also, why isn't what the malware maker doing illegal?

Not sure on this particular case as can't be bothered reading the whole story. BUT most malware/adware is perfectly legal as it relies on user ignorance and stupidity, simply put in some terms and conditions that you accept the adware in the install of product X, 99% of people don't read the terms so you have an easy install path that is perfectly legal.