ESET
Researchers Discover First-Ever Ransomware Misusing Android Accessibility
Services
Researchers Discover First-Ever Ransomware Misusing Android Accessibility
Services
ESET researchers have
discovered DoubleLocker, an innovative Android malware that combines a cunning
infection mechanism with two powerful tools for extorting money from its
victims.
discovered DoubleLocker, an innovative Android malware that combines a cunning
infection mechanism with two powerful tools for extorting money from its
victims.
“DoubleLocker misuses Android
accessibility services, which is a popular trick among cybercriminals. Its
payload can change the device’s PIN, preventing the victim from accessing their
device and encrypts the victim’s data. Such a combination hasn’t been seen yet
in the Android ecosystem,” comments Lukáš Štefanko, ESET Malware Researcher who
discovered DoubleLocker.
accessibility services, which is a popular trick among cybercriminals. Its
payload can change the device’s PIN, preventing the victim from accessing their
device and encrypts the victim’s data. Such a combination hasn’t been seen yet
in the Android ecosystem,” comments Lukáš Štefanko, ESET Malware Researcher who
discovered DoubleLocker.
On top of being ransomware, DoubleLocker is based on
the foundations of a particular, already documented banking Trojan. According to Štefanko, the functionality for
harvesting users’ banking credentials and wiping out their accounts can be
added easily.
the foundations of a particular, already documented banking Trojan. According to Štefanko, the functionality for
harvesting users’ banking credentials and wiping out their accounts can be
added easily.
“The additional functionality will turn
this malware into what can be called ransom-banker,” warns Lukáš
Štefanko, who claims he spotted a test version of such a ransom-banker in the
wild in May 2017.
this malware into what can be called ransom-banker,” warns Lukáš
Štefanko, who claims he spotted a test version of such a ransom-banker in the
wild in May 2017.
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