Trend Micro tools tossed from Apple's Mac App Store after spewing fans' browser histories
Trend Micro anti-malware tools have vanished from Apple's Mac App Store – after they were spotted harvesting and siphoning off users' browser histories.
Dr Cleaner, Dr Antivirus, and App Uninstall – utilities owned by the Japan-headquartered security house and distributed on the Mac App Store – are no longer available for download. It is not entirely clear yet whether Apple took action itself and stripped the info-collecting software from its online macOS application store, or if Trend Micro pulled the apps itself following complaints. Its website today still links to the downloads even though they are no longer available.
While neither Apple nor Trend has responded to a request for comment on the matter, the removals are almost certainly a response to reports in recent days that the products appeared to covertly collect and upload private user data.
Mac security guru Patrick Wardle noted last week that in addition to the advertised functions of removing adware and malware from Macs, the software also collected people's personal data including their browsing history, then transmitted that data as a password-protected archive to a server on the internet.
"From a security and privacy point of view, one of the main benefits of installing applications from the official Mac App Store is that such applications are sandboxed," Wardle blogged.
"The other benefit is that Apple supposedly vets all submitted applications - but as we've clearly shown here, they (sometimes?) do a miserable job.)"
Fortunately, the newest version of Apple's OS appears to have addressed the first part of that. Wardle noted that those running preview versions of Mojave would have had the product running within new sandbox protections that would have blocked access to private data such as browsing history.
Still, as Wardle explained, the fact that both applications were signed off by Trend Micro and approved for the App Store by Apple should give users reason to be cautious when looking to get new software from even the Cupertino-sanctioned official portal and trusting Apple's own security protections which were in this case circumvented.
Source theregister
Latest Jobs
-
- New Business Sales lead | UK - Cyber Security | New Logo sales
- United Kingdom
- Uncapped OTE
-
New Business Sales lead | UK - Cyber Security | New Logo sales UK Remote An established EMEA technology organisation is hiring a senior New Business Sales lead to take ownership of UK growth. An opportunity built for someone ready to take advantage of competitors who have taken their eye off the ball and turn that into sustained market share. This role is for someone proven. A self-starter who does not need micromanagement, knows how to win market share, and wants the backing of a larger business while building success their own way. You will lead and shape new logo acquisition, define and execute go-to-market strategy with regional leadership, and drive growth across cybersecurity, digital transformation, Microsoft modernisation etc. This is a new business sales role, with budget and full sales lifecycle responsibility. The goal being to build a wider a sales function beneath you as revenue scales. Experience across Financial services, manufacturing, industrial etc helpful. UK-based, remote-first, client-facing when needed. Competitive base salary with uncapped earnings.
-
- Business Development | Healthcare | Warm accounts | UK
- England
- N/A
-
Business Development | Healthcare | Warm accounts | UK Healthcare Cyber Security UK Based An experienced Business Development Manager is required to drive new cyber security revenue across a warm healthcare account base. This role is focused on new business and account growth, engaging healthcare organisations to understand risk, priorities, and operational challenges, and positioning appropriate cyber security solutions and services. Key Responsibilities Drive new business sales into a warm healthcare account base Develop and close new opportunities across healthcare organisations Build senior level relationships with IT, security, and procurement stakeholders Own the full sales lifecycle from first conversation through to close Work closely with technical pre sales and delivery teams Experience Required Proven B2B new business sales experience within cyber security or technology Healthcare sector experience desirable Strong consultative sales and closing capability Ability to achieve UK Security Clearance is required UK based with flexibility to travel What’s on Offer Warm accounts with new business focus Clear revenue ownership Competitive base salary with uncapped commission
-
- Technical Pre Sales Cybersecurity Consultant. Healthcare
- England
- N/A
-
Technical Pre Sales Cybersecurity Consultant UK Remote | Healthcare Focus Overview We are seeking an experienced Technical Pre Sales Cybersecurity Consultant to support healthcare organisations by delivering advisory, solution design, and security uplift services. This role focuses on improving security outcomes, addressing operational challenges, and enabling informed technology decisions across complex and regulated environments. The position blends technical pre sales expertise with a consultative approach, working closely with clinical, technical, and commercial stakeholders to shape effective cybersecurity solutions. The individual must be able to achieve UK Security Clearance. Key Responsibilities Provide technical pre sales support across cybersecurity solutions and services for healthcare organisations Engage stakeholders to understand security challenges, risks, and operational pain points Deliver advisory guidance and recommendations to strengthen security posture and resilience Translate customer requirements into clear, outcome focused technical and commercial solution designs Act as a trusted technical advisor throughout the sales and early delivery lifecycle Produce clear technical documentation, recommendations, and customer facing materials suitable for regulated environments Collaborate closely with sales, delivery, and technical teams to align solutions with customer needs Experience and Skills Proven experience in technical pre sales or cybersecurity consultancy Experience working within healthcare or other highly regulated sectors Broad knowledge of cybersecurity technologies, managed services, and risk based approaches Strong communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non technical stakeholders Confident operating in a client facing, consultative role UK based role with remote working Occasional travel for customer engagement as required
-
- Contract Technical Pre Sales Cyber Security Healthcare. SC clearance needed
- England
- Outside IR35
-
Contract Technical Pre Sales Cyber Security Healthcare Outside IR35 Contract | UK Remote | Healthcare Focus Existing SC clearance is required. Overview Seeking an experienced Technical Pre Sales Cybersecurity Consultant is required to deliver advisory and uplift services across complex healthcare organisations. This Outside IR35 contract operates on a consultancy basis, focused on improving security outcomes, addressing operational pain points, and supporting informed Cyber Security decisions. The role combines deep technical pre sales capability with consultative advisory delivery, working across clinical, technical, and commercial stakeholders to shape effective and proportionate cybersecurity solutions. Responsibilities Provide technical pre sales consultancy across cybersecurity solutions and services within healthcare environments Engage senior stakeholders to understand security challenges, risks, and operational pain points Deliver advisory guidance and uplift recommendations to improve security posture, resilience, and maturity Translate healthcare requirements into clear, outcome focused technical and commercial propositions Act as a trusted technical advisor throughout the pre sales and early engagement lifecycle Produce concise technical documentation, recommendations, and advisory outputs suitable for regulated healthcare settings Experience Strong background in technical pre sales or cybersecurity consultancy Experience working with healthcare or other highly regulated environments Broad understanding of cybersecurity technologies, managed services, and risk based security approaches Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non technical audiences Comfortable operating independently in a client facing advisory role