Mobile virus that steals bank accounts info discovered
CRI, June 14, 2015
Screenshot shows the text massage that is linked to a mobile virus. [Photo: screenshot from CCTV]
A new mobile virus that siphons people's private data including bank account information has been spreading since February.
Victims complain that they received a text massage saying "this is our photo album, open and have a look", with a web link attached in the message that requires users to install an app to open the photo album.
But the app comes with an embedded virus and once it has been installed, the app acts as a back door for hackers who want to steal personal information, including phone contacts, text messages and passwords to online bank accounts.
The same message will then be forwarded to every person on the user's contact list and this creates a chain of victims.
A police officer says the alleged virus has attacked more than 10,000 handsets in two weeks and the creators of the malware have siphoned-off more than 180,000 yuan through mobile banking fraud.
Cases of mobile banking fraud have increased rapidly in recent years with new means to attack mobile security.
More than 400,000 cases have been detected in China last year, and victims have lost around 10.7 billion yuan due to fraud.
