In the world of mobile applications we can find tools for all types of tasks.And, although the recommendation is only to download those that are available in official stores, according to the operating system, sometimes cybercounts find a way to jump the locks and hide malware.This is the case of "Joker" a virus that had already been identified in Android apps and is now back.
According to the researchers of the cybersecurity company Quick Heal Security Lab, the Joker virus is so dangerous because it has the ability to enter your text messages, contacts and much other information on your smartphone, thanks to which performs actions withoutuser authorization how to register it to websites that offer pay or steal confidential information services.
It must be said that this malware had already been identified in some applications for Android.Since 2017 he began to attract attention to infect and steal his victims by hiding in different applications.Since then, Google Play Store defense systems have eliminated around 1,700 applications with this virus.
Even so, in September 2020 the virus was found in 24 Android applications that registered more than 500 thousand downloads before being eliminated.It is estimated that only on that occasion more than 30 countries affected.
Although "Joker" is already known by various cybersecurity companies, Belgium's police are warning about return at the Android application store."This malicious program has been detected in eight Play Store applications that Google has suppressed," says the Belgian authorities in a statement published on their website.
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Police also explains that "Joker" belongs to a family of malware known as BREAD whose objective is to authorize cell phone operations without user consent.According to specialists, initially the virus was responsible for subscribing to the user to Paga SMS services, but has evolved to such a degree that it has now begun to attack online payment platforms that require device verification, but not the user, byWhat they manage to automate charges.
"You risk a big surprise at the end of the month in your bank account or on your credit card," said the Belgian police, referring to the unknown charges that will be seen in the receipt.And it is common for Joker's victims to realize the robbery until they check their account status, which is more, the bank does not suspect because it is a subscription made from the user's device so it does not send aalert the headline.
The apps you should not download
According to the Belgium Police report, the applications that are infected with the virus, and that were available in the Google Play Store are:
However, some cybersecurity specialists warn that more apps can be infected, so the recommendation is that you constantly review the activity on your phone and in your account status to detect any strange activity.
And if you have downloaded any of the applications on the list, immediately.
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