Apple is having a hard time sorting out some of the new bugs and hacks coming to iOS and OS X, which have originated mostly from China. One hack - called Masque Attack - has been in the news recently for the significant damage it could do if properly administered onto a smartphone.

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The U.S. government has added some words, cautioning iOS and OS X users from downloading apps outside the official store. Security agency FireEye first found the exploit, showing how the Masque Attack could masquerade as an official app and steal information.

Apple has confirmed the Masque Attack, but believes both iOS and OS X have enough security safeguards to keep users safe. It also cautioned everyone away from download from unofficial stores.

Masque Attack needs to breach a few security confirmations before accessing information. The first breach needs to be finding iOS phone numbers; followed by making the user click the link; followed by making the user download the link after a warning message.

It is common sense to not download random links on the Internet, and malware starts simply by getting users to click and download rather than create some smart hack in the system.

There are no reports of the Masque Attack actually affecting anyone, making it more of a showpiece to hackers than a security warning. It is smart of FireEye to get the reported hack out into the open, to alert users, but unlike WireLucker, no one has been scammed by this time of attack.

Still, it is only a matter of time before someone puts practical use to Masque Attack. Even if Apple does not consider it a threat now, with all of the security barriers to step across, what if a hacker could eliminate the need to get the user's phone number, or even make the user know they are clicking a link.

TagsMasque Attack, OS X, Malware