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Security experts at Sophos have discovered a new piece of malware targeting Mac OS x users. The malware is hidden in some legal freeware downloads and especially in pirated releases. This malware is still under development and is self-named the BlackHole RAT (Remote Administration Tool). It is using the source code of a popular Windows trojan horse known as darkComet.

When a computer is infected by this malware, it locks the screen and puts up a message identifying itself and basically taunting the user, after which it will reboot their computer. Open source malware such as this is a growing part of the cybercrime ecosystem, as it allows novice cybercriminals to practice their skills. Mac OS x malware is likely to grow especially fast given the popularity of Apple devices, and the fact that there are currently far fewer malware attacks targeting Macs.