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Showing posts with label Mobile Virus. Show all posts
Mobile Virus
Android Antivirus Apps Antivirus Detection data security Data Theft Identity Theft iPhone Mobile Malwares Mobile Security Mobile Virus

Signs Your Phone Has a Virus and How to Remove It Safely

 

In today’s world, our phones are more than just communication devices — they’re essential for work, banking, shopping, and staying connected. That makes it all the more alarming when a device begins to behave strangely. 

One possible cause? A virus. Mobile malware can sneak into your phone through suspicious links, shady apps, or compromised websites, and can create problems ranging from poor performance to data theft and financial loss. There are several red flags that suggest your phone might be infected. A rapidly draining battery could mean malicious software is operating in the background. Overheating, sluggish performance, frequent app crashes, or screen freezes may also be signs of trouble. You might notice strange new apps that you don’t remember installing or unexpected spikes in mobile data usage. 
In some cases, your contacts could receive strange messages from you, or you might find purchases on your accounts that you never made. If your phone shows any of these symptoms, quick action is essential. 

The first step is to scan your device using a trusted antivirus app to locate and remove threats. Check your device for unfamiliar apps and uninstall anything suspicious. You should also notify your contacts that your device may have been compromised to prevent the spread of malware through messaging apps. Updating your passwords should be your next priority. Make sure each password is strong, unique, and ideally protected with two-factor authentication. After that, review your online accounts and connected devices for signs of unauthorized activity. Remove unknown devices from your phone account settings and confirm your personal and security information hasn’t been altered. 

Depending on your phone’s operating system, the process of virus removal can vary slightly. iPhone users can try updating to the latest iOS version and removing suspicious apps. If the problem persists, a factory reset might be necessary, though it will erase all stored data unless a backup is available. While iPhones don’t include a built-in virus scanner, some reliable third-party tools can help detect infections. For Android users, antivirus apps often offer both detection and removal features. Rebooting the device in safe mode can temporarily disable harmful third-party apps and make removal easier. Clearing the browser cache and cookies is another useful step to eliminate web-based threats. 

If all else fails, a factory reset can clear everything, but users should back up their data beforehand. Preventing future infections comes down to a few key practices. Always download apps from official stores, keep your operating system and apps updated, and limit app permissions. Avoid clicking on links from unknown sources, and monitor your phone’s performance regularly for anything out of the ordinary. 

Whether you use Android or iPhone, dealing with a virus can be stressful — but with the right steps, it’s usually possible to remove the threat and get your phone back to normal. By staying alert and adopting good digital hygiene, you can also reduce your chances of being targeted again in the future.
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Mobile Virus
Android Malware Hacking Mobile Mobile Security Mobile Virus

Kaspersky Lab has reported about Android viruses designed to steal money automatically

Viktor Chebyshev, a leading researcher of mobile threats at Kaspersky Lab, spoke in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia about Android Trojans that automatically interact with banking applications. After infiltrating the smartphone, Trojans motivate the user to open the application of a particular credit institution and log in to it. And then the malware automatically clicks the necessary "buttons" for the money transfer. This happens so quickly that the victim does not have time to suspect anything by visual signs.

"The developers of such Trojans thoroughly study the structure of the target banking application. Attackers find out that there is a "Login" button in the application and in which area of the screen it is displayed. They know that after clicking on "Log in", fields for entering a username and password appear. And then there is a money transfer button. Based on this information, attackers create a Trojan that uses the documented capabilities of Android for malicious purposes, which allows it to automatically click buttons in the banking application,” the expert said.

At the moment, Kaspersky Lab knows only about one case of the spread of such a virus. However, the expert believes that soon there will be more such viruses since they are very convenient for cybercriminals.

In addition, mister Chebyshev was asked which platform users are more at risk of encountering banking Trojans. He responded that Android. According to the expert, 99.9% of mobile financial threats target Android.

The expert stressed that Russia remains in the top ten countries in terms of the share of users who have faced financial attacks. He added that mobile threats are still active and continue to develop since it is difficult to find both victims and attackers.

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Mobile Virus
Android Apps Google Play Store Joker malware malware Mobile Virus

Updated Joker Malware Floods into Android Apps

 

The Joker mobile virus has made its entry back on Google Play with an increase in malicious Android apps that mask the billing fraud software, according to researchers. It's also employing new techniques to get beyond Google's app vetting process. 

Joker has been hiding in the shadows of genuine programs including camera apps, games, messengers, picture editors, translators, and wallpapers since 2017. Once installed, Joker applications discreetly simulate clicks and intercept SMS messages to sign victims up for unwanted, paid premium services controlled by the attackers - a kind of billing fraud known as "fleeceware". 

Malicious Joker applications are widely available outside of the official Google Play store, and they've been escaping Google Play's safeguards since 2019. This is mostly due to the malware developers' constant modification of their attack approach. As a result, periodic waves of Joker infections have occurred within the official store, including two large outbreaks last year. 

Over 1,800 Android applications infected with Joker have been deleted from the Google Play market in the previous four years, according to Zimperium experts. Since September, at least 1,000 new samples have been discovered in the newest wave, with many of them making their way into the legitimate market. 

According to a Zimperium analysis, “Malicious actors have routinely found new and unique ways to get this malware into both official and unofficial app stores. While they are never long for life in these repositories, the persistence highlights how mobile malware, just like traditional endpoint malware, does not disappear but continues to be modified and advanced in a constant cat-and-mouse game.” 

According to Zimperium, the developers of the most recent versions of Joker, which first appeared in late 2020, are using legitimate developer techniques to “try and hide the actual intent of the payload from traditional, legacy-based mobile security toolsets,” which allows them to escape both device-based security and app store protections. 

Flutter, a Google-developed open-source app development kit that allows developers to create native apps for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase, is one way they're accomplishing it. The researchers explained, “Due to the commonality of Flutter, even malicious application code will look legitimate and clean, whereas many scanners are looking for disjointed code with errors or improper assemblies”. 

New techniques: 

Another anti-detection method recently implemented by Joker enthusiasts, according to the research, is the habit of embedding the payload as a.DEX file that may be obfuscated in a variety of ways, such as being encrypted with a number or buried inside a picture via steganography. 

According to researchers, the picture is sometimes stored in authorized cloud repositories or on a remote command-and-control (C2) server in the latter scenario. Other new behaviors include hiding C2 addresses with URL shorteners and decrypting an offline payload using a mix of native libraries. 

The new samples also take further steps to remain covert when a trojanized program is loaded, according to researchers. “After successful installation, the application infected with Joker will run a scan using Google Play APIs to check the latest version of the app in Google Play Store,” researchers explained. 

“If there is no answer, the malware remains silent since it can be running on a dynamic analysis emulator. But if the version found in the store is older than the current version, the local malware payload is executed, infecting the mobile device. If the version in the store is newer than the current one, then the C2s are contacted to download an updated version of the payload.” 

Consumers and enterprises alike at risk:

The apps are appearing in a variety of places, including Google Play and unauthorized third-party markets, as well as other legitimate channels, some for the first time. For example, the official app store for Huawei Android, AppGallery, was recently discovered to be infected with the Joker virus. 

According to Doctor Web, the applications were downloaded to over 538,000 smartphones by unsuspecting users in April. 

Saryu Nayyar, CEO at Gurucul, stated in the email, “Sadly, the Joker malware is no joke. And even more depressing, no dark knight is going to ride in to save users from these malicious apps. Users have to manually clean their devices of this pesky malware. The good news is that it appears the only damage is financial and likely temporary. Users who have been subscribed to premium mobile services as a result of this malware can request refunds for said services since the affected applications are known.” 

Earlier this year, Josh Bohls, CEO and founder at Inkscreen, said that Joker is an issue for businesses as well as people. “These malicious applications can find their way into the enterprise when an infected device is enrolled in a company’s bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program, and suddenly you have a new threat vector,” he told via email.
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