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Showing posts with label Mobile Malwares. 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 Malwares
Android Malwares Featured Malware Report Mobile Malwares

Android Malware masquerade as Adobe Flash Player

Trend Micro researchers spotted an android malware that masquerade as Adobe Flash player app, hosted on Russian domains, similar to the fake Instagram and Angry Birds Space apps.

When users opt to download and install the said fake app, the site connects to another URL to download malicious .APK file, which Trend Micro detects as ANDROIDOS_BOXER.A.

ANDROIDOS_BOXER.A is a premium service abuser, which means it sends messages to premium numbers without the user’s permission, thus leading to unwanted charges.

Researchers also found that there are a number of malicious URLs hosted on the same IP. Based on the naming alone used in these URLs, it appears that Android is a favorite target for cybercriminals behind this scheme.


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Mobile Malwares
Malware Report Mobile Malwares

Hacked sites distributes Android malware(NotCompatible) using drive-by downloads



A Reddit user Georgiabiker discovered a new drive-by malware attack that targets Android users who visit hacked sites.

The hacked websites have been injected with malicious iframe that looks at the User Agent string sent by the browser to see if it contains the string "Android" and if so directs the device to download a malicious Android package (APK) , otherwise it will returns a NOT FOUND error.


After downloading the file, the device will display a notification prompting the user to click on the notification to install the downloaded app.

In order to actually install the app to a device, it must have the “Unknown sources” setting enabled . If the device does not have the unknown sources setting enabled, the installation will be blocked.

"NotCompatible is a new Android trojan that appears to serve as a simple TCP relay / proxy while posing as a system update. This threat does not currently appear to cause any direct harm to a target device, but could potentially be used to gain illicit access to private networks by turning an infected Android device into a proxy " Lookout researchers said.

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Mobile Malwares
Malware Report Mobile Malwares

1000+ sites hosted in German server used to launch Mobile malware Apps


Trend Micro researchers come across a server hosted in Germany that hosts a large number of websites serves mobile malware ,targeting Android and Symbian users.

Researchers found a total of 1351 websites hosted on the server , all the website  falling into a certain categories namely Android Market apps, Opera Mini/ Phone Optimizer apps, Pornographic apps , App storage sites, Others .


The sites under the Android Market apps category are designed such that it will look like a legitimate site, features popular applications like WhatsApp, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Barcode Scanner, Skype, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, and others. TrendMicro security solutions detect the files download from above mentioned sites as ANDROIDOS_FAKENOTIFY.A.

The file downloaded from Opera Mini/ Phone Optimizer apps category websites detected as J2ME_SMSSEND.E (a malware especially designed for MIDlets supported devices).

According to the Trend micro graph showing the distribution of domains based on the categories, most of sites offered Opera Mini updates and Photo Optimizer Apps compared with others(nearly 300 sites).

"This particular cybercriminal operation presents some interesting findings. Here we saw that the attackers are not necessarily targeting only one platform. Based on the targeted platform, we also saw that cybercriminals use different social engineering lures. Also, despite the emergence and prevalence of platforms such as Android and iOS, the Symbian platform still seems to be targeted as well." Paul Pajares ,Fraud Analyst @ TrendMicro Said.

But F-secure researchers found this malware app site and published the information last month.
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Mobile Security
Malware Report Mobile Malwares Mobile Security

Lookout Prediction says More mobile malware expected in 2012 : Malwarenomics

Lookout Mobile Security released "Malwarenomics: 2012 Mobile Malware Predictions" .  The report says mobile malware attack will be increased in 2012, more malware will masquerade as legit apps and leads to fake sites.

Money seems the most significant motivation behind the most egregious mobile malware Lookout studied:
When mobile malware producers are able to steadily increase profits from infections more than they pay to infect devices, the industry will grow rapidly. There are a number of trends seen in 2011 that we expect to carry over into 2012 (perhaps at a greater rate) that will drive down the cost of infection and drive up profitability.

From their 2011 research on mobile threats, the company identified some specific instances where consumers should use extra caution when downloading apps or clicking links on their phone:

  • Visiting third party app stores. Lookout found that malware writers often test malware in alternative app markets before trying to place it in the Android Market or App Store. When discovered, malware is usually pulled more quickly from these primary distributors than it is from alternative markets. The likelihood of you encountering malware on an alternative app store increases dramatically.
  • Downloading gaming, utility and porn applications. Be careful to check reviews on these apps before you download. We found that these types of apps are most likely to have malware hidden inside of them.
  • Clicking on a shortened URL (e.g. bitly link) in an SMS message or on a social networking site. Users are three times more likely to click on a phishing link on their mobile device than they are on their PC (Trusteer 2011). Because we expect malware writers to increase web-based distribution, it’s time to start using extra caution when clicking on links on our mobile phones.
  • An app asks you to click “OK”. Don’t “auto pilot” through the prompts an app shows you in order to perform a certain function or deliver a service. Sometimes these apps are greyware, which hide in fine print that they will charge you via premium rate text messages.
  • Clicking on in-app advertisements. Not all advertisements are bad. In fact, most are okay. But some are examples of malvertising and could direct you to a malicious website, prompt you to download malware, or violate your privacy. When clicking on ads, you need to make sure that the ad directs to where you expect to be directed.

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