Whatsapp used to distribute new malware
By MYBRANDBOOK
Whatsapp and its users now seem to be in deep trouble as a newly discovered Android malware has been found to propagate itself through WhatsApp messages to other contacts in order to expand what appears to be an adware campaign.
"This malware spreads via victim's WhatsApp by automatically replying to any received WhatsApp message notification with a link to [a] malicious Huawei Mobile app," ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko said.
The link upon clicking the fake Huawei Mobile app, redirects users to a lookalike Google Play Store website.
Once installed, the wormable app prompts victims to grant it notification access, which is then abused to carry out the wormable attack. Specifically, it leverages WhatApp's quick reply feature - which is used to respond to incoming messages directly from the notifications - to send out a reply to a received message automatically.
Besides requesting permissions to read notifications, the app also requests intrusive access to run in the background as well as to draw over other apps, meaning the app can overlay any other application running on the device with its own window that can be used to steal credentials and additional sensitive information.
According to Stefanko, the functionality is to trick users into falling for an adware or subscription scam. Furthermore, in its current version, the malware code is capable of sending automatic replies only to WhatsApp contacts - a feature that could be potentially extended in a future update to other messaging apps that support Android's quick reply functionality.
While the message is sent only once per hour to the same contact, the contents of the message and the link to the app are fetched from a remote server, raising the possibility that the malware could be used to distribute other malicious websites and apps.
"I don't remember reading and analyzing any Android malware having such functionality to spread itself via whatsapp messages," Stefanko told Stefanko said the exact mechanism behind how it finds its way to the initial set of directly infected victims is not clear; however, it's to be noted the wormable malware can potentially expand from a few devices to many others incredibly quickly.
"I would say it could be via SMS, mail, social media, channels/chat groups etc," Stefanko said.
If anything, the development once again underscores the need to stick to trusted sources to download third-party apps, verify if an app is indeed built by a genuine developer, and carefully scrutinize app permissions before installation.
But the fact the campaign cleverly banks on the trust associated with WhatsApp contacts implies even these countermeasures may not be enough.
BHIM to join e-commerce, competing with PhonePe and Google Pay
The government-supported payment software BHIM is getting ready to join t...
The latest version of X helps prevent deepfakes on social medi
To combat deepfakes and shallowfakes, Elon Musk revealed a new update t...
India and Namibia collaborate on a payment system similar to U
Once operational, the platform will enable digital transactions in Namibia,...
Sebi issues show-cause notices to six Adani group firms
Sebi issued show-cause notices to six Adani Group firms, including Adani ...
SAMSUNG INDIA ELECTRONICS PVT. LTD.
FIREBOLTT
HAVELLS INDIA LTD.
SECUREYE SERVICES PVT. LTD.
Technology Icons Of India 2023: Kulmeet Bawa
Kulmeet Bawa resides as President & Managing Director, SAP Indian subc...
Technology Icons Of India 2023: Shailendra Katyal
Shailendra is instrumental in Lenovo achieving the no.1 position in PC...
Technology Icons Of India 2023: Roshni Nadar Malhotra
Roshni Nadar Malhotra is an Indian billionaire businesswoman and the c...
Leading company into fertilizers in the country
NFL is a dynamic organization committed to serve the farming community...
New defence PSUs will help India become self-reliant
MIL, India’s biggest manufacturer and market leader is engaged in Pr...
STPI encouraging software exports from India
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) is an S&T organization under...
INGRAM MICRO INDIA PVT. LTD.
Ingram Micro India, a large national distributor offers a comprehensiv...
NETPOLEON SOLUTIONS
Netpoleon Group is a Value-Added Distributor (VAD) of Network Security...
RAH INFOTECH
RAH Infotech is India’s fastest growing technology value added dist...