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Are Android devices more vulnerable to hacking and theft of personal photos?

Are Android devices more vulnerable to hacking and theft of personal photos?

By م.زهير الشاعر

Published: February 11, 2022

Android users have been warned about a new scam using a fake version of the popular Chrome web browser to steal private and personal photos.

The latest SMS attack begins with a simple text message indicating that a package was sent to the recipient but was not delivered. This is then followed by a link that takes the victim to a fake webpage where they are urged to download apps like Chrome or the delivery company's Android app.

Once installed, the fake apps then begin installing the Roaming Mantis malware, which can end up wreaking havoc on devices and delivering highly personal files to hackers.

Unlike some attacks that attempt to access banking information, this latest threat goes straight to your photo album, where it is fully capable of downloading every one of your photos and albums.

The security team at Kaspersky, the global leader in cybersecurity solutions and services, who first discovered the scam, says hackers can then use these photos to make huge financial gains.

Alongside many users storing photos such as passport images and bank card details, there is also a chance to extort money from the victim if they have more explicit pornographic photos stored on their devices.

Kaspersky explained, "Criminals have two goals in mind, one possible scenario is that criminals steal details from items like driving licenses, health insurance cards, or bank cards, to subscribe to contracts with payment services using QR codes or mobile payment services, and criminals can also use stolen photos to make money in other ways, such as sexual extortion."

Roaming Mantis is not new, having first been discovered in parts of Asia in 2018.

However, this new warning has been issued as it now appears to be spreading rapidly across Europe with France and Germany currently among the most affected areas.

If you are wondering whether these types of attacks really work, the answer is yes.

Kaspersky has released data on how many times the fake apps have been downloaded, and it seems thousands are being tricked every day.

In fact, the malicious version of Chrome has now been installed more than 65,000 times in France alone.

Speaking about this new threat, Kaspersky said: "It has been almost four years since Kaspersky first noticed the Roaming Mantis campaign, and since then, the criminal group has continued its offensive activities using different malware.

Additionally, the group has now expanded its geography by adding two European countries to its main targeted areas, and we expect these attacks to continue in 2022 due to strong financial motives."

The advice is clear: delete any text messages if you are not sure of their source, and do not download any apps unless you are sure they are from an official source.

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