232 Android banking apps on malware hit list: Quick Heal

Quick Heal Security Labs took to their blog post to warn many reputed Indian banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, IDBI and Axis, among others, about an Android banking Trojan, which has the capability of imitating around 232 mobile apps, which may, in turn, hamper the functioning of the apps.

The announcement was made last week, and according to the researchers, a malware named ‘ Android. banker. A2f8a’ is being distributed through a fake Flash Player app on third- party stores. It keeps checking for the installed apps on the victim’s device and particularly looks for the listed 232 banking and cryptocurrency apps. Once a targeted app is found on the device, the app shows fake notifications disguised as coming from the targeted app and asks users to log in with their credentials and ultimately tricks them into stealing their login ID and password.

Sanjay Katkar, Joint Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer, Quick Heal Technologies Limited commented on the same and said, “Users are advised to avoid downloading apps from third- party app stores or links provided in SMSs and emails to keep their credentials safe. It is strongly advised to keep device OS and mobile security app up- to- date.”

The global IT security firm also advised installing a reliable mobile security app that can detect and block fake and malicious apps before they can infect your device.