It seems that malware on Android devices has become common lately and it is happening again now. Cybercriminals have discovered a way to remotely seize phones and commit bank fraud, among other things. Malware can also monitor almost all activities, for example while entering your passwords or access code.
Threatfabric security company reports From the form of Trojan Banking, which is where malware is categorized. Researchers state, for example, that the virus enters via malicious websites and then gives cybercriminals near-complete remote access to the device.
Malware can unlock and lock the phone, manage notifications, and read with activity, for example, to intercept login data. It also gains access to applications, so that it can, for example, search applications for two-factor authentication and password managers. We probably don’t need to explain what a criminal could do with all this.
Rogue websites and apps outside the Play Store
Malware can end up on the device in several ways. The researchers first mention that criminals use websites that offer malicious updates or apps. They cannot be downloaded from the official Google Play Store, but from rogue pages that try to install malware on your device.
It also turns out that there are apps in the Google Play Store that claim to be legitimate, but are used for these rogue purposes. If you install such an application, then later you will receive a notification that the update is ready. You will have to download this update outside of Google Play, so you can install malware on your device without you noticing. Android blocks the installation of “unknown apps” by default and users will have to disable this security measure to install the so-called update. Technology site Security.nl†
Researchers call it Quick Cleaner As an example of this app, which has been downloaded about 50,000 times. also pocket screen Turns out it was a rogue app.
What can you do?
Malware becomes very dangerous once it is placed on your device, but you can greatly reduce the risks by preventing the virus from entering. Don’t download anything outside the Play Store, even if the Play Store app asks you to update from outside. Also, keep your device up to date with system updates.
By the way, it does not guarantee that apps from the Play Store will always be reliable. We previously published an article about Six antivirus apps targeting your bank account† So it is just a matter of interest when you download something to your Android device; It is therefore advisable to limit the number of installed applications as much as possible.
Source: Security.nl / Threatfabric
