Have you received an SMS message on your mobile telling you that a package has arrived and that you need to click on a link to obtain information on how to collect it? Watch out! You can be the next victim of the Flubot virusa dangerous Trojan also known as “FedEx SMS scam” although it does not only focus on supplanting the identity of a single
Flubot: the new mobile threat that has infected more than 60,000 Android users
In the last weeks at least 60,000 Android users globally, of which 97% are Spanishhave been attacked by Flubot and both the National Police and Mossos d’Esquadra have issued police alerts to warn about the way this cyber virus operates.
Do you know what is the FluBot? It is a malicious program that sends SMS by simulating parcel companies, such as FedEx, or . If you don’t trust, don’t click the link!
— Mossos (@mossos)
The virus is spread through an SMS that assures the user that they have received a package and that it is necessary to click on the attached link. Once the user has clicked on the link, a supposed tracking app is installed by FedEx, DHL or Correos among others, but in reality what is installed on the mobile is a .
The app that has been installed is capable of controlling the entire mobile phone, with which you can access practically any program including electronic banking.
A Trojan that steals user information and credentials
This Trojan is capable of steal the user’s contact information and credentials, and upload them to a remote server. After, the information is used to send similar messages to the user’s contacts through SMS, making a chain of infections via smishingwhose operation is almost identical to but of course via SMS. To date it is estimated that Flubot has collected around 11 million phone numbers.
Flubot uses an Android component that allows you to observe and control the device, so it is not a threat to users of iOS or other operating systems. After acquiring control, it can show overlapping windows, that is, they can be displayed on top of what you see on the screen, so it can easily steal your data, in addition to making it difficult to uninstall.
get rid by Flubot: this is how you can disinfect your mobile
The first line against Flubot is prevention: you should not install applications outside the official sites or the app store . If you have doubts about the veracity of any message, it is best to contact the companies directly to request information. It is also recommended to install an antivirus and periodically check the mobile, but in case the malware has already been installed, users have two options:
Reboot in “safe mode” your mobile, which will allow uninstall malwarethoroughly check the mobile with the antivirus and then change all passwords for services that might have been exposed.
also exists an open source app which has been created by a trustworthy Android team. This app, so it will be necessary to enable the “install applications from unknown sources” option on the device, an option that once it has been installed and executed, it is recommended to turn it off to avoid future problems with malicious applications.
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