ANDROID users have been identified as potential victims of a malware scam that tries to obtain personal information through their phone.
Answering a simple phone call creates the risk of users having their digital banking information stolen.
1
Android users run the risk of falling victim to malware scams
A malware called BRATA was recently discovered in Italy.
As part of the scam, “threat actors” target Android users who have been victims of SMS attacks in order to steal their online banking information.
Cleafy researchers say the new variant can go undetected by most AV scanners.
Their research further revealed that the malware was previously only discovered in Brazil.
There it was distributed through Google Play Store applications.
In June 2021, this Android scam was identified through SMS phishing, also known as smishing, aimed at spreading various Android applications.
Earlier this month, The Sun reported that malware disguised as banking, fitness and document scanning apps had gained access to the phones of over 300,000 Android users.
The nefarious Trojan horse software was able to log keystrokes and remotely send personal information to outside criminals, then hack messaging apps and spread the infection to other phones on the same network.
A November report by ThreatFabric detailed the infected apps, including QR code readers, crypto wallets and document scanners, which were downloaded by more than 300,000 users.
The apps seem harmless and, according to ThreatFabric, the malware can even be dormant the first time it is downloaded and then activated remotely to collect information.
If you think your phone is infected, the first thing to do is to delete any suspicious apps as soon as possible and run a virus scan.
If your data or battery usage suddenly spikes, malware may be doing background tasks on your device.
Make sure none of your friends have received mysterious messages from you, especially those with strange links.
Malware can use your phone to send messages to people on your contact list and further infect your network.
Your best protection options: Install strong antivirus software, run regular security checks, and make sure you are always using the latest operating system.
New Google Android bug “allows hackers to spy on your phone’s camera,” warn experts
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for the US Sun team?
