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Malware: Cuckoo Behaves Like Cross Between Infostealer and Spyware
Adam Kohler & Christopher Lopez

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28 min read

Malware: Cuckoo Behaves Like Cross Between Infostealer and Spyware

On April 24, 2024, we found a previously undetected malicious Mach-O binary programmed to behave like a cross between spyware and an infostealer. We have named the malware Cuckoo, after the bird that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds and steals the host's resources for the gain of its young.

Threat Intelligence
To Improve IT Efficiency, Consider New KPIs
Iru Team

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5 min read

To Improve IT Efficiency, Consider New KPIs

How efficient is your IT team? Historically, that’s been a straightforward question, with an equally straightforward answer: You look at the number of help-desk tickets they receive in a given time period, count the number that were solved, calculate the ratio of tickets solved to tickets received, and—voila! You have a metric.

Thought Leadership
How to Add Devices to Apple Business Manager Using Apple Configurator
Iru Team

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9 min read

How to Add Devices to Apple Business Manager Using Apple Configurator

Before mobile device management solutions for Apple devices—such as Iru—were common, there was Apple Configurator.

Educational
CloudChat Infostealer: How It Works, What It Does
Adam Kohler & Christopher Lopez

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11 min read

CloudChat Infostealer: How It Works, What It Does

On April 3, 2024, we came across an undetected file that had been uploaded to the online virus-checker VirusTotal that day named Clip. Right off the bat, we noticed that the file had some red flags that warranted further investigation.

Threat Intelligence
Home Screen Layout: When and How to Use It
Alexandre Morin

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6 min read

Home Screen Layout: When and How to Use It

Just over eight years ago, at its 2016 spring media event, Apple made a batch of product announcements, including the brand new iPhone SE and iPad Pro. The company also announced the upcoming release of iOS 9.3—one of the biggest ever for the enterprise and education markets alike. It introduced Apple School Manager, Managed Apple IDs, Classroom, and Shared iPad, which allowed a single Apple iPad to be shared among multiple users.

Educational
How Apple Mitigates Vulnerabilities in Installer Scripts
Csaba Fitzl

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14 min read

How Apple Mitigates Vulnerabilities in Installer Scripts

Vulnerabilities are hot topics inside the world of security research and—because of their potentially dramatic impacts—outside as well. Unfortunately, the strategies and tactics that companies like Apple take to prevent specific vulnerabilities—or even entire families of exploits—typically attract less attention. But the fact is that engineering high-impact mitigations is typically more challenging than finding a single vulnerability.

Threat Intelligence
Deploying Adobe Creative Cloud: Choosing the Right Path
Iru Team

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5 min read

Deploying Adobe Creative Cloud: Choosing the Right Path

For Apple IT teams with MDM tools, deploying applications to users is a familiar and relatively straightforward process. Depending on the app and the MDM solution, it could mean deploying titles from the macOS App Store, building and deploying your own app packages, and/or making apps available via self-service.

Educational
How AMOS macOS Stealer Avoids Detection
Sam Mayers & Christopher Lopez

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7 min read

How AMOS macOS Stealer Avoids Detection

Atomic macOS Stealer (AMOS) was first spotted in early 2023. It's a powerful piece of malware that targets Apple users and tricks them into installing the software on their computers. The malware is sold via Telegram; as of January 20, 2024, the price was $3,000 a month.

Threat Intelligence
Managing iCloud Access: What You Can (and Can't) Do
Iru Team

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4 min read

Managing iCloud Access: What You Can (and Can't) Do

Apple IDs have long been integral to the Mac, iPhone, and iPad experience. People are accustomed to using them to sign in to services on their Apple devices—whether those devices are personal or professional.

Educational
Configuring Mac Settings: MDM, Configuration Profiles, or Scripting?
Iru Team

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8 min read

Configuring Mac Settings: MDM, Configuration Profiles, or Scripting?

When it comes to managing Mac computers, there are several ways IT teams can configure their settings remotely.

Educational
Guide for Apple IT: Introduction to Mac Shell Scripts
Iru Team

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16 min read

Guide for Apple IT: Introduction to Mac Shell Scripts

With computers, there are usually multiple ways to perform a given task. On Mac, the most obvious and most common way is through the graphical user interface (GUI) using a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad. But smart Mac admins know that anything you can do in the GUI you can usually also do from the command-line interface (CLI).

Educational
Mac Evaluation Utility: What It's Good For, How to Use It
Iru Team

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5 min read

Mac Evaluation Utility: What It's Good For, How to Use It

The Mac Evaluation Utility (MEU) started out as an informal collection of scripts that Apple engineers and consultants would use to evaluate client environments, to see if they were ready for the deployment of Apple devices. Those scripts would check things like local device settings, network configurations, and the accessibility of Apple services, looking for anything that might pose problems for that deployment.

Educational
Iru Earns ISO 27001 Certification
Iru Team

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2 min read

Iru Earns ISO 27001 Certification

To earn the internationally recognized ISO 27001 certification, a company must demonstrate a commitment to implementing an information security management system (ISMS) followed by a rigorous two-stage audit. That’s why we’re so proud to announce that Iru has just received its own ISO 27001:2022 certification

Product Update
Key to Successful MDM Migration: Enlisting Users
Iru Team

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5 min read

Key to Successful MDM Migration: Enlisting Users

Migrating from one MDM solution to another can be a huge win not only for an Apple IT team but for its organization as a whole. That move can unlock efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve security and compliance for everyone. But in pitching, planning, and executing such a migration, it’s good to keep one particular constituency front of mind: your end users. Ultimately, they’re the real reason you’re switching—and you can’t make the move without them.

Educational
Apple IT Training and Certification: What You Need to Know
Arek Dreyer

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10 min read

Apple IT Training and Certification: What You Need to Know

Back in May 2022, Apple announced a new series of online IT training and certification programs. These programs follow three tracks: Apple Device Support, Apple Deployment and Management, and Apple Business Essentials.

Educational

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