Experts from the Garda group of companies have detected a new type of fraud affecting users of popular instant messengers. Attackers target smartphone owners with Android and iOS operating systems. By sending messages on behalf of a person they know from the victim’s contact list, criminals offer to install an application that claims to be Yandex Music but is actually hiding malware. Viktor Ievlev, head of the group’s information security department, explained that cybercriminals use users’ requests to receive free subscriptions to services to distribute their programs.
Scammers send messages via WhatsApp*, Telegram or Viber asking for help activating Yandex Music, offering to download a fake app and promising a free subscription. However, as Ievlev emphasizes, the application has nothing to do with the real service. Under the guise of an official product, a Trojan horse program is hidden, which gives attackers full access to the user’s mobile device.
To avoid infection, experts recommend following a few simple safety rules. It is important not to download apps from third-party sources and only use official stores such as Google Play and App Store. It is also recommended that you install anti-virus software that will protect against malicious files and warn of suspicious links. If you receive suspicious messages from people you know, it’s best to contact them through another channel, such as by phone, to make sure their account hasn’t been hacked.
*Belongs to Meta, who is recognized as an extremist and banned in the Russian Federation
Source: Ferra
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