WARNING: Dangerous Android Malware Capable Of Stealing Bank Details

Android smartphone users are being warned of a new dangerous hacker bug that is going around, the bug is capable of completely emptying a user’s bank account and also erasing the mobile device rendering it unusable. Security researchers have said that considering the malware capabilities, it is very dangerous for Android smartphone users.

The bug is said to focus its abilities on the most popular and widely used operating system in the world, Android. About 85% of the world’s smartphone runs on Android making the OS a big target of hackers and cybercriminals. Unlike Apple’s iOS operating system, Android OS is an open source-based OS and it allows users to install third-party applications.

The BRATA threat to smart devices was shared in a report by security firm Cleafy. In the report, it was explained that the malware is capable of evading antivirus scanning programs, performing keylogging and wiping the smartphone with a factory reset. The report has been largely sent out to users with the hope of preventing someone from falling victim. The new threat to smartphone devices has been identified to use a type of malware called BRATA. The updated version of the BRATA malware, will monitor access and steal users bank account details via their android devices. Once the theft is completed, the malware will now erase data from the infected device.

Users are advised to be vigilant and careful about applications that have administrator access or other types of access. Avoid downloading apps from the third-party app stores, if you must download, do it only from Google Play Store. The malware uses these service permissions to monitor the phone screen. However, the biggest danger has to be the possibility of wiping phone data once a user’s banking details are stolen.

Various variants of the bug are believed to have made their way into large online banking spaces in countries including China, UK, Spain, Italy, Poland and Latin America. These variants combine mixed features like bypass security, factory reset and location tracking ability etc. It is said to have already started spreading across smart devices.

According to Cleafy, BRATA was first discovered by security research teams at Kaspersky back in 2019 and they found hackers were targeting smartphone owners in Brazil but it’s since made its way across the Atlantic with users in the UK, Poland and Italy all thought to be the next targets. The bug is said to keep evolving, making its detection harder while causing more devastating consequences to devices once they’ve been infected. In the meantime, you can protect your device by being careful about the apps you install and which permissions you grant access to. Never give accessibility permissions to any app you aren’t positive is legitimate, and be extra wary of apps hosted on third-party stores.