Anyone with an Android phone in their pocket would be wise to follow three rules to avoid worrying new risk.
Don’t download another app onto your Android phone until you know about the latest risks. Millions of users have already been infected with a vicious bug called Necro and there’s some simple advice to help stop you from becoming its next victim. This nasty trojan – which was first discovered by the security team at Kaspersky back in 2019 – is fully capable of stealing personal data. However, once installed it can also set about signing unsuspecting Android owners up for expensive subscriptions without their permission.
So how does it make its way onto devices and how can you stop it?
The easiest way for hackers to install Necro is via so-called ‘mods’. These modified apps promise to offer additional features than those found on official applications such as WhatsApp and Spotify.
This enticing-sounding software isn’t available via the Google Play Store with users side-loading things instead. Even if you never add apps from unofficial sources you still need to be on high alert.
It appears that a few apps on Google’s Play Store have also been infected with Necro making this ab even more worrying threat.
According to Kaspersky, one application called Wuta Camera was downloaded over 10 million times from Google Play before Necro was discovered and removed from the photo editing service.
Now, in a bid to stop more users from becoming a victim of Necro, Kaspersky has issued some vital advice which you are wise not to ignore.
Here are the top three tips to help you stay safe.
• Kaspersky strongly advises against downloading apps from unofficial sources because the risk of device infection is extremely high. Secondly, apps on Google Play and other official platforms should also be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism. Even a popular app like Wuta Camera, with 10 million downloads, proved powerless in the face of Necro. Make sure to protect your devices so as not to be caught off guard by a Trojan.
• Check the app page in the store before downloading. Kaspersky says it recommends looking at reviews with low ratings, as these generally give heads-up about potential pitfalls. Rave reviews could be fake, while a high overall score is easy to inflate.
• Don’t look for mods or hacked versions. Such apps are almost always stuffed with all kinds of Trojans: from the most harmless to mobile spyware like CanesSpy.
