ANDROID users have been warned about a new wave of malware targeting their bank accounts.
These banking trojans for Android are cleverly disguised as legitimate apps and are waiting to steal your hard-earned money.
According to a recent report by Malwarebytes, more than 88,500 banking Trojans for Android were detected in 2023 alone.
One of the most malicious apps discovered last year was called “RecoverFiles,” which pretended to be a file recovery service.
HOW DO TROJANS WORK?
RecoverFiles and other insidious programs are waiting for unsuspecting users to download them.
Once installed, they can wreak havoc on your finances in several methods.
They can steal your passwords and login credentials by capturing your keystrokes as you type.
This can easily give hackers access to your bank accounts and other sensitive information.
Another way is to gain access to your device by requesting permissions.
By doing this, bad actors can steal your personal information, including contact lists, messages, and even photos.
Finally, some Trojans can intercept your SMS messages, which allows criminals to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA).
HOW TO STAY SAFE
Malwarebytes has shared a few ways you can protect yourself from these digital bandits.
First, pay attention to apps that have been flagged as malware and remove them from your device immediately.
Be careful with the apps you download, which means you should only download apps from trusted sources.
Users can benefit from reading reviews and ratings before downloading any app.
Pay attention to apps that ask for permissions and don’t grant unnecessary permissions.
Finally, always a reputable security app that helps detect and block malware, including banking Trojans.