Palo Alto Networks has discovered a new family of malware that could infect Apple's desktop and mobile operating systems, highlighting the increasing sophistication of attacks on Mac computers and iPhones.

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

Palo Alto Networks confirmed on Wednesday that it had seen indications that the attackers were Chinese. The malware, which is affecting users all over China, most likely originated from a Chinese third-party apps store.

Olson said that the malware was able to spread through infected apps uploaded to the apps store that were downloaded onto Mac computers.

More than 400 such infected apps had been downloaded over 350,000 times so far, according to Palo Alto Networks.

The company doesn't know what the objective of the attacks was yet. There isn't evidence that the attackers had made off with anything more sensitive than messaging IDs and contacts from users' address books, Olson said.

There is a chance they could steal Apple IDs however.

"They could just as easily take your Apple ID or do something else that's bad news," Olson said in an interview, according to Reuters.

Olson said was Apple, which was notified a couple weeks ago, has not commented yet regarding the issue.

When WireLurker gets on an iPhone, it can infect a number of existing apps on the device, similar to how a traditional virus infects computer software programs.

Olson added that it was the first time he had ever seen it in action, according to Reuters.

"It's the first time we've seen anyone doing it in the wild," he said.

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