ANDROID users are been warned about a dangerous scam that could see their bank accounts drained by hackers.
Cybersecurity experts spotted an increase in hackers using this type of scam over the past year.
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Criminals are said to be targeting Android phones with something called remote access trojan (RAT) infections.
According to experts at Cleafy, a type of this malware called BRATA has been spotted in Brazil, Italy, Lithuania and the Netherlands.
It’s not thought to have reached the US or UK yet but the research suggests being vigilant would be wise.
The BRATA infection is said to be difficult to detect.
It involves a scammer sending you an SMS text that contains a link to a website.
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The text will likely appear to be from your bank.
If you click the link, you’ll be taken to a website that will encourage you to download an “anti-spam app”.
The website will also suggest that someone from your bank will contact you soon to discuss the app.
You’ll be asked for some personal details and a scammer will then ring you and encourage you to download the app.
If you download it, hackers will then have access to your phone.
They’ll be able to do things like accessing your text messages and stealing any two-factor authentication passwords.
They could also access any banking apps you have.
The cyber criminals are said to try and delete any anti-virus software on your phone so they can go undetected.
How to stay safe
You should be wary of any messages that claim to be from your bank.
Never click on any suspicious links or feel pressured to be downloading any apps.
You should ring your bank on its official number if you have concerns.
Warning to Google Voice users that hackers can steal your identity
In other news, smartphone experts are warning anyone thinking of buying an iPhone for Christmas to think again.
WhatsApp is adding a cryptocurrency feature for some users in the US.
And, we revealed an iPhone document scanning trick you need to try.
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