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2020/03/18 13:39:14

CovidLock (virus racketeer)

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2020: Use for blocking of smartphones with the redemption purpose

In the middle of March, 2020 cybercriminals found a method to use a coronavirus in the purposes — distribution of COVID-19 led to growth of number of phishing letters and other malware which use the Android applications tracing a coronavirus for blocking of smartphones with the redemption purpose. The new type of viruses racketeers known as CovidLock, ciphers key data on the Android device and denies to the victims access until they pay the redemption.

Researchers of DomainTools company found out that with growth of a koronavirusny pandemic also the number of the domain names connected with COVID-19 increased, but not all from them are safe. Among them DomainTools detected the website which promises to monitor in real time koronavirusny flash using the application for Android. Actually it was the supplier of programs racketeers. During installation the application convinces the user to provide it administrative access, and then blocks all contacts, photos, video and accounts on social networks until the user agrees to pay the redemption in bitcoins. If the redemption is not paid, the malefactor threatens to disclose publicly all personal information and to erase memory of phone.

Cybercriminals found a method to use a coronavirus in the purposes - distribution of COVID-19 led to growth of number of phishing letters and other malware which use the Android applications tracing a coronavirus for blocking of smartphones with the redemption purpose

The virus racketeer interrupts access to personal data by forced change of the password or the PIN code used for phone unblocking. Softwares of Android 7.0 Nougat offer a certain protection against it like the attack above, but they work, only if the user already set the password for a device unblocking.

To protect itself from racketeers, DomainTools advises to use only reliable sources of information from websites of the government and research organizations and also to load applications for Android only from Google Play shop.[1]

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