Too FAST - Is this Malware?

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I would also counsel here to stop throwing money away. You don't seem to have a real problem, just a perceived snappy responsiveness. It's not the network (multiple modems, multiple IP addresses). Not malware, viruses or infections (multiple scans with multiple products). Not a system bug, or there would be more folks than just you bringing it up. Two consultants didn't find anything. Basically, bottom line, sometimes when you find nothing it is because there is nothing to find.

FWIW:
According to Ars Technica, malware previously undetected has been found on nearly 30,000 Macs across the globe. Known as “Silver Sparrow,” this malware is particularly mysterious.

Macs infected with malware are programmed to check a control server every hour to see if there are any new commands or binaries to execute. So far, researchers have not seen any payload delivered by this malware, which means they don’t really know this software’s goal. That means there’s a chance that its commands could be unleashed once some unknown condition is met.

Even more curious is the fact that the malware is programmed to self-destruct. This type of feature is usually reserved for ‘high-stealth operations.’

What makes this malware even more surprising is that it was programmed to run on Apple’s new M1 chips. That’s impressive when you consider that these chips just hit the market in late 2020.

Silver Sparrow has been found in over 153 countries, with higher concentrations in the US, Canada, France, UK, and Germany.

Security researchers at Red Canary dubbed Silver Sparrow a “reasonably serious threat.”

 

[Lifeisabeach]

I just want to know where I can get ahold of some malware that will make my computers and devices snappier and faster. Maybe even nominate the author for some kind of humanitarian award.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

FWIW:
According to Ars Technica, malware previously undetected has been found on nearly 30,000 Macs across the globe. Known as “Silver Sparrow,” this malware is particularly mysterious.

So far, researchers have not seen any payload delivered by this malware, which means they don’t really know this software’s goal.

Just a couple of thoughts.

First, those numbers are from Malwarebytes, an anti-virus software company known for dubious statements in the past. In fact, in the past they've reported that way more Mac users were infected with different malware, however then, as now, it was impossible to find a single Mac user in the wild with a confirmed infection.

Second, when you start hearing about malware that is global and is a mystery as to its purpose, it leads one to suspect that this isn't conventional malware, but rather it is from a government actor with a political agenda that has nothing to do with ordinary users. The prototypical case is the malware used to destroy the centrifuges being used by Iran to create nuclear material. Lots of sources reported discovering this malware and they couldn't figure out what its purpose was. But the malware did what it was supposed to do when it was introduced into Iran's nuclear facilities.

In any case, there have been a number of Chicken Little reports of malware for the Macintosh in the past couple of decades. The next such report that develops into actual malware that is both verifiably prevalent, and certifiably malicious...will be the first.

 

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Just a couple of thoughts.

First, those numbers are from Malwarebytes, an anti-virus software company known for dubious statements in the past. In fact, in the past they've reported that way more Mac users were infected with different malware, however then, as now, it was impossible to find a single Mac user in the wild with a confirmed infection… .

Actually, it was reported by Ars Tecnica, Feb 20, 2021:

New malware found on 30,000 Macs has security pros stumped
With no payload, analysts are struggling to learn what this mature malware does.
DAN GOODIN - 2/20/2021, 10:10 AM

And article in MacRumors:
M1 Macs Targeted by Additional Malware, Exact Threat Remains a Mystery
Saturday February 20, 2021 12:10 pm PST by Joe Rossignol

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Actually, it was reported by Ars Tecnica, Feb 20, 2021:

Go back and check where they got their information from.

 

[IWT]

I think it's dangerous to print in Large, Bold Type, statements that cannot be verified or come from sources that have a vested interest in frightening people into buying their products.

If such dangers were widespread, as stated, then the entire Apple community would be in uproar and the media would have a field day.

Ian

 

[Raz0rEdge]

OK enough. The thread has run its course.

Aluminum foil hat theories are interesting and everything but let's move on.