There is a new virus in town and NCC alerts users of a new virus that steals banking details. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) raised an alarm that millions of Nigerian telecom consumers face this new risk. The Punch news online, confirms this new, high-risk malware is called Flubot.
The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), says that Flubot “targets Androids with fake security updates and App installations”. NCC issued a press release to pass the information.
How the Flubot works
The ngCERT affirms that Flubot “impersonates Android mobile banking applications to draw fake web views on targeted applications and its goal transcends stealing personal data and essentially targets stealing of credit card details or online banking credentials.
“FluBot is circulated through Short Message Service and can snoop “on incoming notifications, initiate calls, read or write SMSes, and transmit the victim’s contact list to its control center.”
“This malware attacks Android devices by pretending to be “FedEx, DHL, Correos, and Chrome applications”. It further compels unsuspecting users to alter the accessibility configurations on their devices. That way the virus will maintain continuous access.
“The new malware undermines the security of devices by copying fake login screens of prominent banks, and the moment the users enter their login details on the fake pages, their data is harvested and transmitted to the malware operators’ control point from where the data is exploited by intercepting banking-related One Time Passwords and replacing the default SMS app on the targeted Android device.
ngCERT
What can Happen
When the virus secures admittance into the device through SMS, it begins to transmit similar messages to other contacts of the user device. Also, they engage tactics enticing them into downloading the fake app.
When Flubot infects a device, it can result in incalculable financial losses. Additionally, the malware creates a backdoor which grants access to the user’s device. Through this access door, it enables the invader or attacker to perform other criminal actions, including the distribution of other variants of malware.
How to Prevent Flubot Attack
The ngCERT now understands the process by which this malware operates. So, to protect millions of telecom consumers and prevent criminal forces, the NCC reiterates the advice of the ngCERT that:
- Do not click on the link if you receive a suspicious text message, and do not install any app or security update the page asks you to install.
- Use updated antivirus software that detects and prevents malware infections.
- Apply critical patches to the system and application.
- Use strong passwords and enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) over logins.
- Back-up your data regularly.
- If you have been affected by this campaign, you should reset your device to factory mode as soon as possible. This will delete any data on your phone, including personal data.
- Do not restore from backups created after installing the app. You may contact ngCERT on *incident@cert.gov.ng* for technical assistance.
- You will also need to change the passwords to all of your online accounts, with urgency, around your online bank accounts.
- If you have concerns that your accounts may have been accessed by unauthorised people, contact your bank immediately.
