The LockBit ransomware gang, a major player in the world of ransomware-as-a-service operations, has created a version of its malware specifically designed for macOS devices.

The first indication of the group’s experimentation with macOS was reported on April 15 by the MalwareHunterTeam ransomware repository, with vx-underground adding further information that the macOS variant had been available since November 11, 2022.

However, while the development may be concerning, the binary analysis shows that the malware is not yet ready for prime time. Mac users can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being, but the incident should be viewed as a warning for things to come, particularly as Macs become more prevalent in enterprise environments.

Apple has implemented a number of security mechanisms, such as