iOS App Store hit by major malware attack

Apple has cleaned up the App Store after hundreds of apps were found to contain malware.

Several cyber security firms found a malicious program called XcodeGhost embedded in the effected apps. Chinese security firm Qihoo360 Technology Co stated that it found 344 apps that were tainted by XcodeGhost.

Hackers embedded malicious code into legitimate apps by convincing developers to use a tainted counterfeit version of Apple’s Xcode, which is used to create iOS and Mac apps. Palo Alto Networks Director of Threat Intelligence Ryan Olson said that this version may have been used because it allowed for faster downloads than using Apple’s US servers.