Malware Alert! Android Virus Steals Personal Data including Passwords
Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) has issued an advisory, warning users against a new Android virus that is out on the streets. Named as Android/SmsSend, this virus affects Android smartphones and steals personal information including sensitive data such as passwords. Scroll further to read more about this mobile virus.
What is Android/SmsSend?
Android/SmsSend is a newly detected Trojan virus that affects Android smartphones.
What does this Virus do?
Once inside an Android device, the virus can perform the following malicious and illegal activities:
- Sends text messages to numbers on the victim’s contact list. These messages most likely contain a link to download the virus itself, or to other threats.
- Sends text messages to premium rate numbers that can lead to high telephone bills.
- Steals basic information of the infected device such as:
- IMEI number
- Device ID
- Device type
- Android/SmsSend is also capable of installing spyware on the infected device, which in turn, can spy on what the user does on their phone.
- The virus can also steal sensitive information such as:
- Pictures
- Passwords
- Banking information
- The notoriety level of this virus goes up to a level where it can also track the device’s location, access text messages, crash the affected device, and even disable any firewall protection.
How does Android/SmsSend Spread?
The main source of this Android malware are unofficial, third party app stores.
What Should You Do to Avoid this Malware?
- Download apps only from trusted, official stores such as Google Play.
- Always check for permissions before installing an app. For instance, if a Flash Light app asks for your permission to use Internet or view your contacts or media, then avoid installing it.
- Do not click links in unknown and unexpected emails.
- Avoid clicking links in text messages from unknown senders. Even if the link seems to have sent by someone you know, verify it first before acting on it.
- Get a reliable mobile security app that performs real-time virus scan as soon as an application is installed on a device.
- Use the device encryption feature that is available in Android Gingerbread 2.3.4 and above. Encrypting your device will prevent a hacker from misusing your data even if they get access to it.
- Never log on to any website while using public, unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
- Regularly back up your device’s important files and keep them safe.
How does Quick Heal help?
Quick Heal mobile security app detects and blocks this Android malware from affecting your device or its data.
If you come across any incident that is related to the AndroidSmssend virus or any other malware, please do leave your comments below.
Source:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
gadgets.ndtv.com
https://ibnlive.in.com
84 Comments
Yes
it will work only in android platform os or others too ??
Hi Kiran,
This malware is designed to affect Android smartphones.
Regards,
Very Nice
Very good
quick heal me resolve now ka message aa rahai hi
Hi Ajay,
We recommend you to click the Resolve Now button.
Regards,
Messsages sends automatically from my mobile, and balance becomes nill. What is the problem and its remedy please
Hi,
If you have a mobile security app, we would recommend you to run a scan on your device. You can also check with your service provider to verify the number to which your messages are being forwarded.
Regards,
Large number of mails were sent from my above hotmail account to my contacts in the contact list. Outlook helped me to recover my account which was blocked by them for safety. I changed the password
The Best android Siqerity quick Heal anti virus
Very nice
Heard from one Sasmsung Service Centre that Galaxy Series phones have inbilt antivirus and do not need additional Antivirus. Is it true ?
Hi Somnath,
We did learn in September this year, about Samsung phones planning to have an inbuilt antivirus. However, we cannot say whether they have started doing so.
Regards,
Good
How can i kill that virus
If i’ve QHMS then my phone is safe or not
Hi Raman,
If you have Quick Heal App in your phone, then you need not worry about this malware. However, we would recommend you to update the app as soon as possible from Google Play.
Regards,
I have received last month an email which was suspicious and hence it was quite absurd beacause it was send through my school but on asking them they said they didn’t. So i investigated it an acquired the result ie, it was a spam.
Hi Kushal,
You did the right thing by not responding to the email, and investigating the matter. Good going!
Regards,
i got micromax a 120 android mobile but my quick heal total security anti virus did not detect it when i used mobile scan, please help
Hi Kaling,
If your Quick Heal app has not detected this malware, then that means your mobile device does not have this malware. We would suggest you to update your Quick Heal app so that it can detect such new and unknown viruses.
Regards,
This suggestion is aweosome thanks quick heal
what about windows 8.1 mobiles like Lumia 535. 630. 520?
Hi Sandip,
As of now, this malware is known to affect only Android devices.
Regards,
Mobogenie is a trusted App ?
Hi Daksh,
The site “https://www.mobogenie.com/apps” is a third party Android app store. As reports suggest, third party app stores host the maximum number of malicious and fraudulent applications. Hence, we recommend users to always trust official stores such as Google Play and official site of the app’s publisher.
Regards,
good
sir,
I recently upgraded my quick heal 15 to 16.00,32-bit but after upgrading it started showing a message that it is not update , when i tried to update it manually it showed a message update definition file is corrupt.
It has been not updated since 3 days please suggest what to do.
Hi Udaijit ,
Our Support Team can help you solve this issue. Kindly submit your query at https://bit.ly/Askus. They will get back to you with a solution. You can also contact them at 0-927-22-33-000. Alternatively, you can chat with our engineers by visiting https://bit.ly/QHSupport
Regards,
My cell phone is affected by Trojan virus.And I have quick heal
Antivirus but still Trojan is there so what can I do.
Hi Nancy,
Could you let our Support Team analyze the issue? They can help you solve it. Kindly submit your query at https://bit.ly/Askus. They will get back to you with a solution. You can also contact them at 0-927-22-33-000. Alternatively, you can chat with our engineers by visiting https://bit.ly/QHSupport
Regards,
I am trying to update but seen- No Update for longer time. Please help to update my Quickheal.
Hello Mr.Das,
Our Support Team can help you solve this issue. Kindly submit your query at https://bit.ly/Askus. Our Support Team will get back to you with a solution. You can also contact them at 0-927-22-33-000. Alternatively, you can chat with our engineers by visiting https://bit.ly/QHSupport
Regards,
Thanks for the valuable information and advice.
Gud
quick heal need to provide us the patch up section in their total security product as bitdefender , 360 total security etc. provides us this feature
Hi Arik,
By patch up section, if you are referring to a feature that checks for security vulnerabilities in your computer, then the new Quick Heal v16.00 does have a Vulnerability Scanner. Know more about this here >> https://www.quickheal.co.in/home-users/quick-heal-total-security
Regards,
Very nice……
Thanks.
hanged
Hi Kamal,
How may we help you?
Regards,
Thanks for telling me about this malware. It saved my personal data.
Very Nice Quick hear
AntiVirus
I am facing same kind of problem…. few days b4 I got a msg on my facebook account regarding a private video. I clicked the link but there was nothing. suddenly I noticed that this link is automatically forwarded to all my contacts in friend list. from next day I am unable to open my account also, it is telling that malware has affected my account…. please help me how can I overcome from this problem and how can I open my account again.
Hi Kuleshwar,
The first thing that you should do is run a full system scan on your computer. Thereafter, visit the following link on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/help/217854714899185
Regards,
ple activate my quickheal
Hi Ananth,
Our Support Team can help you solve this issue. Kindly submit your query at https://bit.ly/Askus. Our Support Team will get back to you with a solution. You can also contact them at 0-927-22-33-000. Alternatively, you can chat with our engineers by visiting https://bit.ly/QHSupport
Regards,
yes
nice and suitable for all device
It is very good antivirus and best security apps.
i want to know one thing, how to uninstall this, if attacked. Presently iam using mcafee, it shows that the malware is in the phone, but unable to uninstall, what to do??
Hi Umapathig,
Our Support Engineers may be able to help you remove the malware from your phone. Please get in touch with them at +91 927-22-33-000. You can also chat with them by visiting by visiting https://bit.ly/QHSupport
Regards,
How it can be identified that this virus has affected the system?
Hi Mahesh,
Our team has analyzed that this malware comes as an Photo Viewer application. Once it is launched by the user, the device gets stuck. If the user tries to go back by clicking BACK or HOME, the app hides itself from the home screen. Another sign of this malware infection is your contacts receiving messages from your number with a URL.
Regards,
Help my device from virus…
Hi Syed,
You can install a reliable mobile security app on your Smartphone to block such malware.
Regards,
Very nice
Yes
goodthings
Ok
Very use full app
OK thanx
Good
Ok
Very good
Nice
protect my device from virus plz
Hi Lakshmi,
We recommend you to install a reliable mobile security app on your phone to prevent such malware infections. You can install our Free Quick Heal Mobile Security App >> https://bit.ly/QHMSFree
Regards,
help my device from vires
Hi Anuj,
We recommend you to install a reliable mobile security app on your phone to prevent such malware infections. You can install our Free Quick Heal Mobile Security App >> https://bit.ly/QHMSFree
Regards,
I hv quick heal so need to worry naa ????
Bt plz tell me what to do next
Hi Anmol,
Yes, Quick Heal will protect your device and data from such malware. We recommend you to update your Quick Heal app at the earliest.
Regards,
Thanks quickheal…
Nice
my mobile got infected with this thing on 9th dec
it is sending messages to a number which i identified
i blocked dat number .. still no effective
scanned with every antivirus software but none could detect it
this thing is effecting the battery life
also my kernel version to something weird numbers and is also showing the date 9 dec 2014 ..
i did factory reset but it is still infected
i noticed something like imeitracker service under messaging in application manager ….
plz help?
Hi Vivek,
Have you tried installing Quick Heal Mobile Security App and scan your device for this malware? If not, then we would recommend you to do so. You can install it from >> https://bit.ly/QHMS_Free
Also, our Support Engineers may be able to help you the malware from your phone. Please get in touch with them at +91 927-22-33-000. You can also chat with them by visiting by visiting https://bit.ly/QHSupport.
Regards,
Quick Heal Mobile Security App was the first thing i tried… but it couldnt detect it
Very nice
one of the good….!!!!
I m getting unwanter marketing messages inspite of dnd like TD Twitter , TD Lenskart etc, which i have not opted. Is itbecause of some app virus.
How to stop it
Hi Rituraj,
The below Twitter page has the exact information that will help you stop receiving these messages:
https://support.twitter.com/articles/14020-twitter-sms-commands
Regards,
superb boss thanq for these information
Recently my android mobile Karbonn Titanium S5 stopped access from the USB drive. The message is as follows: Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)
Hi Prasenjit,
You are requested to contact our support center to resolve this issue. You can:
1. Call us on 0-927-22-33-000
2. Submit a ticket here – https://www.quickheal.co.in/submitticket
3. Chat with us here – https://www.quickheal.co.in/quick-heal-support-center
Regards.