At least a dozen false applications, tracing of contacts, designed to look like official tools to fight the pandemic, have been deployed globally to spread computer viruses and steal data of users, revealed on Wednesday to researchers in cyber security.
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once installed on the smartphone, these apps “to download and install malware” to steal credentials and personal data,” explained the researchers from the california firm Anomali. They do not seem to be distributed through official means (such as the “app stores” Google or Apple), but is spread via links in other applications or web sites that encourage members to adopt them. “Malicious actors will continue to mimic the apps official, provided by the authorities, to enjoy the confidence they inspire”, note Anomali in a press release. “The global impact of the pandemic Covid-19 is the name of the virus as a symbol of fear. These actors are exploiting this fear”, adds the company.
