In yet another incidence of dangerous software making its way onto the Google Play store, Android users should make sure they haven’t installed a banking malware unintentionally.
According to Ars Technica, security firm Cleafy revealed that a trojan known as TeaBot or Anatsa, which was first discovered in May of last year, has reappeared. Unfortunately, it managed to avoid detection as it slipped past Google’s security checks and was discovered concealed inside an app called QR Code & Barcode Scanner on the Google Play store.
The software has since been withdrawn by Google, but not before it was downloaded by over 10,000 Android users. It demands an update and installs a second software called QR Code Scanner: Add-On as soon as it is installed, allowing the trojan to begin stealing your data. The update does not happen through Google Play, which explains why the original program was not flagged as dangerous.
TeaBot’s new version now targets over 400 apps, including “home banking applications, insurance applications, crypto wallets, and crypto exchanges,” in addition to banks. Once your device has been infected, the malware will use streaming software to allow remote viewing of your screen and account takeovers.
If “QR Code & Barcode – Scanner” and “QR Code Scanner: Add-On” sound familiar, see if they’re installed on your Android smartphone. If this is the case, they should be withdrawn immediately, and your banking, insurance, and cryptocurrency accounts should be monitored for suspicious activity. It’s also a good idea to install a trustworthy Android antivirus app to help prevent future infections, especially since they’re making their way onto the official Google app store.
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Aimee Lyons
Nalani Rodriguez, a writer who is always seeking new ways to push the limits of what's possible with my words and explore the complexities of the human experience. I believe that writing is not just about expressing oneself, but about exploring the world and the human experience in all its forms and complexities. I strive to create stories that are both challenging and thought-provoking, that reveal the beauty and complexity of the world and the human experience. I believe that writing has the power to connect us with others, to bring us closer together, and to help us understand ourselves and the world around us.
