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With the rise of telephony, viruses are no longer just a thing for computers. They are also trying to sneak into smartphones and tablets through malicious mobile applications that contain dangerous traps. From data theft, identity theft or even damage to the terminal. Anything can happen if you are not alert and take care of your device as you should. It is not only necessary to avoid the installation of apps from unknown developers. Also, you have to be aware not to leave relevant information on suspicious websites, as well as install an antivirus solution that protects you at all times.
For some years now, viruses on mobile devices have been growing like wildfire. One of the latest has been Zoopark, a type of malware capable of spying on messaging services such as Telegram or WhatsApp. Nor can we forget about Loapi, a virus that can physically destroy a mobile phone in a matter of seconds. These are just two, but there are more. If you want to be aware of the most dangerous mobile viruses in recent times, do not stop reading. We do a review.
Zoopark
Discovered by Kaspersky researchers, Zoopark is one of the most recent viruses on record. It is capable of searching inside our mobile and tracking any type of activity we have done. From seeing all the WhatsApp or Telegram messages, to messages, photos and, worst of all, our bank details. Also, Zoopark manages to record all the calls that are made, in addition to making involuntary calls or keeping a record of the keys we press. In this way, you end up getting all kinds of passwords and usernames.
For now, the virus is still active. From Kaspersky Lab they have assured that it comes from the Middle East and that it could be software developed by a government in the region. According to the security company, this malware has been active since 2015, so it could have evolved over four generations. In the beginning, it was a very simple malware that could only steal information from the terminal account. The truth is that in these few years it has become one of the most dangerous viruses in the world in the telephony sector.
Loapi
Can you imagine a virus capable of destroying a phone physically? Well, believe it or not, it exists and it's called Loapi. Detected at the end of last year, this malware is exclusive to Android. Again, it was the security company Kaspersky Lab who found him. As determined by the investigations, once inside the mobile, Loapi is capable of subjecting it to such high work forces that the terminal ends up breaking. To give you an idea, take the battery to the maximum, reaching an extreme temperature, with the fatal consequence that this supposes. Apparently, the suffering of the phone was not the real purpose of the attackers, they simply wanted to raise money. However, the final consequence is the physical failure of the terminal, which ends up damaging part of its components.
Loapi is deployed through traditional means. For example, through advertising campaigns, showing itself as an antivirus solution or as an application for adults. The application is installed on the devices and requests permissions from the user to have administration rights. From that moment, the worst begins. The virus connects with the control servers to install the following modules on the computer.
- Adware, to insert advertising on the computer
- SMS, to carry out operations through text messages
- Web crawler, to enroll users in payment services without their consent
- Proxy, to carry out popular DDoS attacks
- Currency Miner, for the crypto currency to mine Monero
CopyCat
Detected last summer, CopyCat infected 14 million devices in a very short time. Asia was the continent most affected by the attack, followed by the United States with more than 280,000 infections. Basically, this malware replicates very popular applications from the Google Play store to later enter the device and do its own thing thanks to the permissions. As you can see, it is a very dangerous virus, since many users do not realize that they are installing the fraudulent application instead of the original.
Copycat replaces the app IDs with its own. This means that every ad that appears in the applications is revenue that goes to hackers. It is estimated that in the beginning some 5 million applications worked through the CopyCat ID, which was a clean revenue of one and a half million dollars for cybercriminals. The Android users most at risk from this type of malware are those who have an old version of the operating system installed: Android 5.0 or earlier. In this way, it is essential that the mobile is updated to the latest software version, and that security updates are downloaded on time as soon as they are available.
Skygofree
Rated as one of the most perfect spy tools out there for Android, Skygofree is a real danger to system-governed devices. Malware has been taking shape since 2014, until it has managed to bypass the main security barriers with the help of five exploits. Once it bypasses security, this virus can enter the call and message logs, capture videos or photos, and access any type of information available on the terminal. For example, to the data that is inside the notes or emails.
As if this were not enough, Skygofree is also capable of stealing WhatsApp messages or even connecting infected devices to WiFi networks that are managed by hackers. We can say that Skygofree is a relative of Pegasus, an espionage platform discovered in August 2016 that operates in a similar way stealing data and information of all kinds.
If you want to avoid viruses and malware on your device, you already know that you have to have a certified antivirus security solution and keep it activated at all times. Do not install suspicious applications that do not come from known developers. Likewise, install all security updates on your terminal periodically as soon as they are available, as well as the latest software version. If you still think you are infected, be sure to take a look at our tips.
