Android smartphone users are once again being asked to stay vigilant, after a number of apps were found to be infected with a money-stealing bug. The security team at Threat Fabric discovered apps on the Google Play Store which contained that Antasa banking trojan.
Once installed on a user's device, the devastating virus sets its sights on pinching credentials which are used to authorise users when they log into mobile banking applications. If it's successful in its endeavours, it gives cyber criminals full access and control over accounts, with the likes of credentials, card details and balance and payment information at risk.
It could also allow hackers to unknowingly transfer funds from your account to their own. While Antasa isn't a new development, the latest resurgence of the bug has been targeting Android users across the UK, USA and parts of Europe.
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The Mirror reports that Threat Fabric detailed a total of five new dropper apps on the Play Store over the span of just four months - all posing as PDF reader software. One, called PDF Viewer - Reader & Editor was downloaded more than 10,000 times before it was deleted, showing the scale of affect on Android users.
All of the infected apps have now been removed by Google, although they could still be installed on the phones of those who don't know about their threat. Should you have downloaded any form of PDF software this year, it would be wise to check that it came from a trusted and official source.
It's also worthwhile to check all applications prior to download, as some software banned from Google's marketplace has made a sneaky comeback just a couple of days or months after being culled. On the bug, Threat Fabric, said: "The latest campaign by Anatsa reveals the evolving threat landscape that banks and financial institutions face in today’s digital world.
"The recent Google Play Store distribution campaigns targeting US, DACH, and UK regions demonstrate the immense potential for mobile fraud and the need for proactive measures to counter such threats."
Here's the full list of apps banned by Google
- PDF Reader - Edit & View PDF
- PDF Reader & Editor
- All Document Reader & Editor
- All Document Reader and Viewer
