These Angry Birds remind Mac users their machines aren't virus-proof

It may take no less than these Angry Birds to remind users of Apple computers running OS X that their machines are not invulnerable to malware.

A new wave of malware is disguising itself as cracked versions of Angry Birds, as well as popular apps such as Pixelmator, security researcher Graham Cluley said.

"(M)alware experts at ESET labs have also seen OSX/CoinThief spread through torrents as cracked versions of (several) popular Mac OS X applications," Cluley, who had worked for security firms including Sophos, said in a blog post.

He said OSX/CoinThief, first discovered earlier this month by SecureMac researchers, threatens to steal Bitcoin-related login credentials via malicious browser add-ons.

On the other hand, he said ESET researchers had warned Mac users against downloading pirated software from file-sharing peer-to-peer networks lest these contain similar malware.

"There is clearly strong evidence that the trojan was specifically designed to profit from the current Bitcoin craze and fluctuating exchange rates," he added.

Cluley said the malware disguised as cracked apps other than Angry Birds include:

• BBEdit: an OS X text editor
• Pixelmator: a graphics editor
• Delicious Library: a media cataloguing application

Citing data from ESET, Cluley said the threat is particularly active among Mac users based in the United States.

"Whether you’re a Bitcoin-enthusiast or not, it’s essential that you protect your Mac with an up-to-date anti-virus product, and resist the temptation to download cracked and pirated software," he said. — VC, GMA News