Palo Alto Networks Inc (PANW.N) has discovered a new family of malware that can infect Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) desktop and mobile operating systems, underscoring the increasing sophistication of attacks on iPhones and Mac computers.

The "WireLurker" malware can install third-party applications on regular, non-jailbroken iOS devices and hop from infected Macs onto iPhones through USB connector-cables, said Ryan Olson, intelligence director for the company's Unit 42 division.

Palo Alto Networks said on Wednesday it had seen indications that the attackers were Chinese. The malware originated from a Chinese third-party apps store and appeared to have mostly affected users within the country.

The malware spread through infected apps uploaded to the apps store, that were in turn downloaded onto Mac computers. According to the company, more than 400 such infected apps had been downloaded over 350,000 times so far.

It's unclear what the objective of the attacks was. There is no evidence that the attackers had made off with anything more sensitive than messaging IDs and contacts from users' address books, Olson added.

But "they could just as easily take your Apple ID or do something else that's bad news," he said in an interview.

Apple, which Olson said was notified a couple weeks ago, did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

Once WireLurker gets on an iPhone, it can go on to infect existing apps on the device, somewhat akin to how a traditional virus infects computer software programs. Olson said it was the first time he had seen it in action. "It's the first time we've seen anyone doing it in the wild," he added.

(Yahoo)

Sprint is not standing still, continuing to tinker with its plans as it seeks to win over new customers.

The Apple Watch isn’t going on sale until next year, but already everyone from Wall Street analysts to luxury fashion executives is trying to handicap future sales of the groundbreaking device.

Among the finance set, estimates range from a few million to almost 40 million in the first year of sales. “The detail that went into the design, including the watch bands, is impressive and not fully appreciated yet,” UBS analyst Steven Milunovich wrote in his assessment of the watch. He sees 24 million sold in the first year and 40 million in the next year.

One of the most optimistic analysts, Brian White of Cantor Fitzgerald, expects Apple will sell 37 million watches in the first year, outpacing the 20 million iPads sold in the tablet’s first 12 months. “We believe Apple Watch will prove to be a home run with the fastest, new product, first-year unit sales volume in the company’s history,” Fitzgerald said last month on CNBC.

Apple’s product announcements ain’t over until someone other than Bono sings.

The company plans to hold a “special event” Thursday, Oct. 16, in California, according to a report by Re/code’s John Paczkowski, who correctly predicted the timing of Apple’s Sept. 9 event, and who is thought to have terrific sources within Apple.

(Update: After Paczkowski’s piece was published, the Wall Street Journal came out with its own report that confirmed the event’s date.)

The announcement is rumored to concentrate on a new line of improved iPads. Blogs have been whispering that, like the latest iPhone, the new iPad could ship with a bigger screen and also come equipped with fingerprint scanning Touch ID sensors. There may also be a gold option for the new iPad.

Additionally, Apple may announce a new line of Retina iMacs, per a report from 9to5Mac last week.

This should also be the moment executives can finally announce the availability of the long-awaited OS X Yosemite, the new operating system for Mac computers, which was first announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.