NCC Alerts Telecom Consumers on Flubot Malware

MondayOctober 25, 2021 / 12:48 PM / by NCC / Header ImageCredit: APKRig

...Lists measures to guard againstattack.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) wishes toalert millions of Nigerian telecom consumers of the existence of new, high-riskand extremely-damaging, Malware called Flubot.

A malware is a generic word used to describe a virusor software, designed specially to "disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorizedaccess to a computer system".

According to the information received today, October21, 2021, from the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), Flubot "targets Androids with fake security updates and App installations".

The ngCERT affirmed that Flubot "impersonates Androidmobile banking applications to draw fake web view on targeted applications" andits goal transcends stealing personal data and essentially targets stealing ofcredit card details or online banking credentials.

FluBot is circulated through Short Message Service(SMS) and can snoop "on incoming notifications, initiate calls, read or writeSMSes, and transmit the victim's contact list to its control centre".

This malware attacks Android devices by pretending tobe "FedEx, DHL, Correos, and Chrome applications" and compels unsuspectingusers to alter the accessibility configurations on their devices in order tomaintain continuous presence on devices.

The new malware undermines the security of devices bycopying fake login screens of prominent banks, and the moment the users entertheir login details on the fake pages, their data is harvested and transmittedto the malware operators' control point from where the data is exploited byintercepting banking-related One Time Passwords (OTPs) and replacing thedefault SMS app on the targeted Android device.

Consequently, it secures admittance into the devicethrough SMS and proceeds to transmit similar messages to other contacts thatmay be on the device it has attacked enticing them into downloading the fakeapp.

It suffices to say that, when Flubot infects a device,it can result in incalculable financial losses. Additionally, the malwarecreates a backdoor which grants access to the user's device, thus enabling theinvader or attacker to perform other criminal actions, including launchingother variants of malware.

In view of this discovery and understanding of theprocess by which this malware operates, and in order to protect millions oftelecom consumers and prevent criminal forces, irrespective of location, fromusing telecom platforms to perpetrate fraud and irredeemable damages, the NCChereby wishes to reiterate the advisory of ngCERT as follows:

Do not click on the link if you receive asuspicious text message, and do not install any app or security update the pageasks you to install.
Use updated antivirus software that detects andprevents malware infections.
Apply critical patches to the system andapplication.
Use strong passwords and enable Two-FactorAuthentication (2FA) over logins.
Back-up your data regularly.
If you have been affected by this campaign, youshould reset your device to factory mode as soon as possible. This will deleteany data on your phone, including personal data.
Do not restore from backups created afterinstalling the app. You may contact ngCERT on [email protected] for technicalassistance.
You will also need to change the passwords to allof your online accounts, with urgency, around your online bank accounts.
If you have concerns that your accounts may havebeen accessed by unauthorised people, contact your bank immediately.

As the Commission intensifies efforts in ensuringincreased broadband access, enabling telecoms consumers to carry out theirlegitimate activities more efficiently and effectively online, it also restatesits commitment to empowering consumers through useful information and educationto protect them from falling victims of all kinds of cyber-attack while online.This explains the rationale for the launch of telecom sector's Centre forComputer Security Incident Response by NCC on 30th September, 2021.