Don't Let This Attack Freeze Your Mac or iPhone

Just over a month after researchers demonstrated that hackers can hijack mouse clicks on a Mac, a new report indicates that specially crafted web pages can freeze or crash Macs and iPhones.
Security researcher Sabri Haddouche has created HTML and CSS code that, when hosted by a web page, attacks visitors' devices.
"The attack uses a weakness in the -webkit-backdrop-filter CSS property," Haddouche told BleepingComputer. "By using nested divs with that property, we can quickly consume all graphic resources and crash or freeze the OS."
In other words, while the code is just 15 lines long, it contains a massive amount of <div> tags, which consume all of your device's graphic resources, causing it to freeze or restart.
Haddouche went on to note that the attack affects all browsers on iOS, as well as Safari and Mail in macOS.
"All browsers on iOS are affected because the underlying rendering engine is WebKit," Haddouche explained.
Visiting the webpage on a Mac will cause Mail and Safari to freeze for a second, and the computer running them to slow down. (Once you've closed the Safari tab running the code, the computer returns to normal).
It caused a device running iOS 12 to reboot completely, but caused an iOS 11.4.1 device to only respring (boot the user to the lock screen). According to Twitter user Robert Petersen, the web page causes an Apple Watch running watchOS 5 to freeze and reboot as well.
Haddouche claims he has also created an attack using HTML, CSS and JavaScript that will totally freeze macOS computers, and cause them to re-launch the same malicious webpage upon rebooting, in effect putting them into a temporary boot loop.
Many Mac users still assume Macs aren't vulnerable to malware and adware, but the truth is that the past two years have seen more Mac vulnerabilities than ever before.
Just a few weeks ago, North Korean state-sponsored hackers used Mac malware to successfully hack a cryptocurrency exchange platform. And back in January, a researcher discovered a piece of macOS malware that reroutes your traffic to malicious websites, and could also be used to steal passwords, take screenshots, download files, run software and more.
Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to prevent these attacks. We'll just have to wait for Apple to release a patch. In the meantime, take extra care not to click on links that you're not familiar with.
Source tomsguide

Latest Jobs
-
- Contact 12 month- Security Operations- Crowdstrike Falcon Insight EDR / Analyst.
- United Kingdom
- Dependent on experience
-
Security Operations engineer / Analyst with Crowdstrike Falcon Insight EDR experience for a 12 month contract. Experienced Contractor with Crowdstrike Falcon Insight: Endpoint detection and Response (EDR) experience needed - 12 month rolling project. Implementation, configuration and Analyst experience needed with Crowdstrike Falcon Insight: (EDR) Migration project- relocating capability internationally. technically implementing, configuration of that that migration and then transition to BAU role monitoring. DCL Search exclusive associate Project.
-
- SailPoint Consultant
- London
- Upto £75,000 plus benefits
-
SailPoint Consultant is needed for an expanding Financial Service business, this is an exciting time to join the Business as they are in the Process of deploying both IAM and PAM solutions and this consultant will form a key part of the IAM team Location can be flexible but would require the individual to come into the London office a couple of times a month for team meetings and face to face project reviews Duties include · Engage in the Identity & Access Management project to deliver SailPoint IdentityNow and Privileged Access Management · On-board applications and users into IAM tools and customise or configure integrations as required · Regularly review, secure and recertify privileged roles in applications, databases and operating systems · Implement least privilege, just-in-time access, password rotation and vaulting wherever possible · Migrate application authentication to Single Sign-On through the use of SAML and OAuth · Implement and enforce the use of MFA where possible, focusing on critical applications and risky sign-ins · Provide technical support to Centrify and SailPoint users Key experience required: Previous experience with SailPoint, including integrating and deploying into a business, onboarding users and applications, supporting users and performing manual administration tasks. Experience with SAML and OAuth to migrate applications to Single Sign-on. If you are interested in hearing more please reach out to me for more information
-
- Centrify Consultant
- London
- Upto £75,000 plus benefits
-
A Privileged Access Management Consultant is needed for an expanding Financial Service business, this is an exciting time to join the Business as they are in the Process of deploying a Centrify PAM solution,, this consultant will form a key part of the team Location can be flexible but would require the individual to come into the London office a couple of times a month for team meetings and face to face project reviews Duties include · On-board applications and users into PAM tools and customise or configure integrations as required · Regularly review, secure and recertify privileged roles in applications, databases and operating systems · Implement least privilege, just-in-time access, password rotation and vaulting wherever possible · Migrate application authentication to Single Sign-On through the use of SAML and OAuth · Implement and enforce the use of MFA where possible, focusing on critical applications and risky sign-ins · Provide technical support to Centrify users You would also gain expsoure with the IAM toolset as part of an Identity Access deployment. Key experience required: Previous experience with a PAM tool (Centrify would be an added bonus but not essential) including integrating and deploying into a business, onboarding users and applications, supporting users and performing manual administration tasks. Experience with SAML and OAuth to migrate applications to Single Sign-on. If you are interested in hearing more please reach out to me for more information
-
- SOC team lead- Deputy SOC manager - Managed Security Services, Bradford. Exclusive
- Bradford
- £70,000 +
-
SOC team lead- Deputy SOC Manager - Managed Cyber Security Services, Bradford. Exclusive Identifier project. Technical team lead needed to join a Managed Cyber Security Services business. The role will be a hands on lead role and technical escalation point for the team. You will also be responsible for leading, mentoring, growing and developing the team. You will be the deputy SOC manager and be involved in the strategic growth of the capability. A managed security services background is essential, specifically within a managed security operations capability. Current hands on support experience across Firewall, SIEM, Incident Response is essential.