A brand-new Android malware has been discovered in the wild that is capable of evading antivirus apps, stealing a tonne of private and financial information, and even encrypting all of the contents on an infected smartphone by using ransomware.
According to a recent report from the cybersecurity company CloudSEK, this new Android malware, known as "Daam" by its experts, poses a serious threat to the greatest Android phones due to its advanced capabilities.
As of right now, CloudSEK has discovered the Daam malware in the APK or Android app installation files for the Psiphon, Boulders, and Currency Pro apps, which appear to be sideloaded apps that the Daam malware uses to infect Android smartphones. Psiphon is a VPN programme; Boulders is a smartphone game; and Currency Pro is, as its name implies, a currency converter.
Your Android phone may be infected with the Daam malware if you installed any of these apps via sideloading rather than through approved app stores like the Google Play Store. The malware can evade detection by antivirus software, and it may already have locked the files on your smartphone by using ransomware, so there may not be a simple remedy.
File encryption
The Daam malware is quite complex and has a variety of features intended to steal your data and jeopardise your privacy.
For instance, the malware is capable of recording all active VoIP and phone calls, including WhatsApp calls. However, it can also steal your smartphone's files and even contacts. Surprisingly, the Daam malware can not only collect information from your existing contacts but also from newly added contacts.
The hackers behind this malware campaign's command and control (C&C) server get all of the data that Daam has stolen before sending it back. It's important to note that after installation, dangerous apps used to spread malware request access to private device permissions in order to virtually completely control your Android smartphone.
As if having all of this private information stolen wasn't bad enough, the Daam malware also encrypts all of the files on an infected Android smartphone using the AES encryption algorithm without getting permission from the user. The device password or PIN on a smartphone can also be changed at the same moment, locking you out totally.
Mitigation tips
Normally, protecting yourself from mobile malware would only require installing one of the top Android antivirus programmes and turning on Google Play Protect on your phone.
In this instance, though, the Daam malware was made to evade antivirus apps.
Because of this, the best method to safeguard yourself against it is to be extra cautious while downloading new programmes. Although sideloading apps may be practical, doing so puts your Android smartphone at risk of becoming infected with malware. For this reason, you should only download apps from authorised Android app shops. Similar to this, you should still read reviews and check an app's rating before installing it because bad apps occasionally manage to get past Google's security checks.
At the same time, you should refrain from clicking any links sent to your smartphone by email or text message from unidentified senders. These links may take you to malicious websites that could trick you into installing malware or use phishing to collect your information.
Although the Daam malware is relatively new, it is already quite capable of data theft and making life tough for Android smartphone owners. Because of this, we'll probably continue to hear about it.
