Backdoor.MacOS.SniperSpy
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are assessment reports for different malware threats which have been collected and analyzed by our research team. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards evaluate and rank threats using several metrics including real-world and potential risk factors, trends, frequency, prevalence, and persistence. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are updated regularly based on our research data and metrics and are useful for a wide range of computer users, from end users seeking solutions to remove malware from their systems to security experts analyzing threats.
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards display a variety of useful information, including:
Ranking: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
| Threat Level: | 60 % (Medium) |
| Infected Computers: | 1 |
| First Seen: | February 22, 2021 |
| Last Seen: | May 19, 2021 |
SniperSpy was a legitimate software product developed by Retina-X Studios a while ago. It offered a good set of tools for Mac users to remotely monitor their devices. SniperSpy had seemingly proven useful to employers and parents alike until an unknown group of hackers found some vulnerabilities in the software which allowed them to use the latter to siphon off customer data to a third-party server. The hack turned out to be far greater than initially expected, hitting Retina-X’s entire product portfolio which also included programs PhoneSheriff, TeenShield, and MobileSpy. As of today, the company has halted its products and is currently on its way to beef up its security measures. Customers have received pro-rated refunds and have no knowledge as to when Retina-X Studios will return to normal business.
Prior to the attack, the SniperSpy software allowed its users to monitor their Windows- or Mac-based computers from any location. You could see exactly what your child or employee was doing online in real time – website logs, actual screenshots, keystroke logs, social media and instant messaging logs, etc. In addition, the program also gave you the opportunity to apply different filters - app, chat, social media, web, time control, etc – to manage those activities at your own discretion. Overall, not a bad package for $79.97 per annum. However, something went wrong.
While Retina-X Studios have remained tight-lipped about the real causes of the security breach, they appear to have cooperated with the appropriate authorities to expose the perpetrators in charge of the hack. Whether they’ll ever find them is unclear at this stage, what is clear, however, is that there must have been certain flaws in SniperSpy’s architecture that got exploited and made the Spy go rogue. Instead of reaching the user’s Secure Online Control Panel, the data logs were suddenly put at risk of being exposed elsewhere, presumably through a backdoor planted within SniperSpy’s code. Retina-X Studios claim to have intercepted any data leaks from SniperSpy, although they admitted to having had photo leaks from PhoneSeriff and TeenShield.
The hacking attack against Retina-X has brought all four of its software products on their knees for an indefinite amount of time. Even if you happen to still have SniperSpy installed on your Mac, chances are you can’t use any of its features at the moment as your subscription must have been canceled long ago. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended that you remove it from your Applications folder asap because you never know who else may have tried to exploit it to put you at a disadvantage.
