Android owners are being urged to delete three dangerous “cloned” apps today – or risk having their bank accounts raided. Android owners and users have been told to take action and delete apps from the Google Play Store.
Cyber researchers from ESET have discovered that three popular apps aim to steal personal data from Android owners. The trio hides the open source malware XploitSPY which could target your personal data and details.
Android owners are invited to check their devices for Dink Messenger, Sim Info and Defcom. People are being warned to delete the three apps immediately – or risk having their banks hacked by cruel and heartless fraudsters and thieves.
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They form part of a targeted campaign, which began in November 2021, to distribute malware to Android phones primarily in India and Pakistan, according to ESET. T o deleting applications on Android, o open the Google Play Store app and tap the Profile icon in the upper right corner.
Tap Manage apps and devices. Govern. Select the name of the application you want to delete. Tap Uninstall. The researchers said: “Applications containing XploitSPY can extract contact lists and files, device GPS location and file names listed in certain directories related to the camera, downloads and various messaging applications such as Telegram and WhatsApp.”
They further added: “The malware also uses a native library, which is often used in Android app development to improve performance and access system features. However, in this case, the library is used to hide sensitive information, such as C&C server addresses, making analysis difficult applications with security tools.”
The report identified ten additional apps containing code based on XploitSPY and shared its findings with Google, it explained in an alert to users worldwide.