Mobile threats: Pandemic connected malware on the rampage

As persons increasingly commit more time on-line due to the pandemic, hackers are ambushing unsuspecting customers. Early this week, McAfee’s Advanced Threats Research group released its Mobile Threat Report 2021, which discussed how hackers are employing fake apps, Trojans and fraudulent messages to target customers. At the finish of 2020 (Q4), total mobile malware detected by McAfee reached 43 million, with more than 3 million of these detections getting new.

Venkat Krishnapur, VP-engineering and managing director, McAfee Enterprise, India, mentioned, “As fraudsters continue to experiment with newer methods and advanced techniques to bypass security screening, we aim to assist consumers by guiding them to remain vigilant and raise awareness on the importance of safeguarding their data and personal devices.”

Some of the mobile threat trends:

McAfee researchers discovered proof of an SMS worm targeting Indian customers, forming one of the earliest vaccine fraud campaigns. Both SMS and WhatsApp messages encouraged customers to download a vaccine app and after downloaded, malware sent itself to absolutely everyone in the user’s speak to list by way of SMS or WhatsApp.

Targeting customers in Southwest Asia and the Middle East predominately, mobile malware Etinu was discovered getting distributed by way of Google Play Store, with more than 700K downloads ahead of getting detected and removed. Once an app harbouring this malware is installed, the malware steals incoming SMS messages employing a Notification Listener function. It can then make purchases and sign up for premium services and subscriptions that get charged to the user’s account.

McAfee Mobile Security detected 141% rise in Banking Trojan activity in between Q3 and Q4 2020. It found Brazilian Remote Access Tool Android (BRATA) – a banking Trojan – that repeatedly managed to get onto the Google Play shop and tricked customers into downloads.


Originally appeared on: TheSpuzz

Scoophot
Logo