Hackers Spread Android Malware Via Coronavirus Safety App & Gain Contacts Access to Infect All of Them via SMS

Researchers discovered a new Coronavirus safety Android App that infects Android users via malware, as a result, it hefty usage charges for victims.

Attackers taking advantage of the Coronavirus fear to continuously exploit online users by infecting their mobile with various tactics and techniques.

An App called “Corona Safety Mask” that is spread via the malicious domain ” hxxp://coronasafetymask.tk” and force users to install the APK in their Android to receive a Free Corona safety mask.

App Name:Corona Safety Mask
Package:com.coronasafetymask.app
Hash:d7d43c0bf6d4828f1545017f34b5b54c
Virus Total:13/64

Infection Process

Once the app downloaded from the attacker’s website and installed in the victim’s Android device, it requests permission to read contacts and send SMS messages.

After the app gets installed, users to click a button that leads to an online portal where users can buy the Masks.

Users ask to pay online to purchase the mask, in the background, attackers steal the credit/debit card information.

According to the Zscalar research “Along with all the above activities, an important functionality takes place behind the scenes. The app checks whether it has already sent SMS messages or not. If it has not, it collects all the victim’s contacts.

After collecting all the contact information from the victim’s mobile, it sends a download link to all of them via SMS to spread itself to more users.

SMS sending functionality

Eventually, all the contacts received an SMS with the following information ” “Get safety from corona virus by using Face mask, click on this link download the app and order your own face mask – hxxp://coronasafetymask.tk“

By sending itself to a victim’s contact list, this malicious app aims to spread itself over and over. Researchers believe the app is in its early stages and this (and other) functionalities will be added as the app is updated.

Also Read: Beware of Android Coronavirus Tracker app that Lock’s Your Device & Asks Ransom Payment

Balaji

BALAJI is an Ex-Security Researcher (Threat Research Labs) at Comodo Cybersecurity. Editor-in-Chief & Co-Founder - Cyber Security News & GBHackers On Security.

Recent Posts

Hackers Use ConnectWise SkyKick Credentials to Access Microsoft 365, Halting Cloud Backups

Attackers abused compromised ConnectWise Cloud Backup credentials to access Microsoft 365 customer environments, prompting ConnectWise…

1 day ago

Anthropic’s Claude AI Uncovers Origins of NSA-Provided Cryptographic Keys After 25 Years

Anthropic says an internal Claude research model reconstructed how the National Security Agency generated seeds…

1 day ago

Critical WordPress Flaws Allow Attackers to Execute Remote Code Without Authentication

Two WordPress Core vulnerabilities can be chained to execute remote code without authentication, according to…

1 day ago

OpenBSD Kernel Flaw Dating Back 37 Years Enables Local Privilege Escalation to Root

A newly disclosed OpenBSD kernel exploitation chain combines a shared memory accounting flaw with a…

1 day ago

GhostAction Hackers Hide Credential-Stealing Malware in Fake Font Files Across 94 GitHub Repositories

GhostAction attackers have expanded their GitHub credential theft campaign with a second stage that disguises…

1 day ago

SideCopy Hackers Target Indian Organizations With ReverseRAT Malware to Steal Data

Indian authorities have warned that SideCopy hackers are targeting Indian organizations, including academic institutions, with…

1 day ago