Apple has finally announced it will release software to detect and remove the Flashback/ Flashfake Mac Trojan currently infecting hundreds of thousands of Mac computers worldwide.

"In addition to the Java vulnerability, the Flashback malware relies on computer servers hosted by the malware authors to perform many of its critical functions," Apple stated on its Web site on Tuesday. "Apple is working with ISPs worldwide to disable this command and control network."

For now, the company did not indicate when it expects the tool to be released to the public, nor did it offer an estimate. "Apple is taking appropriate action by working with the larger Internet security community to shut down the Flashfake C2 domains," Kaspersky researcher Kurt Baumgartner told Forbes earlier on Tuesday.

More than Half a Million Macs Infected

The malware made huge waves last week, when Russian antivirus company Dr. Web revealed that more than half a million Macs were infected with the malware, which steals personal information.

The malware infecting more than 600,000 Macs was initially discovered in September 2011, disguised as a face Adobe Flash Player plug-in installer. In the past few months, however, it has evolved to exploit Java vulnerabilities that were un-patched in Mac systems.

Biggest Infection Yet to Target Macs

According to several experts, this malware is the biggest infection yet to target Macs. Apple's Mac platform has grown significantly in recent years, along with the company's popular mobile devices.

Antivirus makers have made efforts to build tools that will detect and remove Flashback malware infections, and one of the most readily available means has consisted of a manual process, involving code strings plugged into a built-in system utility. On the other hand, less experienced users might not be comfortable with this manual process.

Users of OS X 10.5 and Earlier: Advised to Disable Java

Earlier this month, Apple also released an update for OS X 10.6 and 10.7, designed to bring Java up-to-date and patch vulnerabilities so computers do not become infected. Still, this is not the first time Mac platforms have been infected with malware, and as their market share grows, there will surely be other threats as well. Unfortunately, opting for OS X does not guarantee your Mac will never fall prey to other malware. For now, Apple recommends users of OS 10.6 and earlier to disable Java in their browser preferences.

(reported by Alexandra Burlacu, edited by Surojit Chatterjee)