IT Firm: Hackers Spreading ‘Kidnap’ Virus on Phones

Manila, Philippines, 4 Jumadil Awwal 1437/03 March 2016 (MINA) – Global Internet security provider Kaspersky Lab warned that cyber-criminals are now into mobile device kidnapping or “ransomware,” a virus that locks a phone until the owner pays a  demanded amount.

In its annual Mobile Virusology report, Kaspersky Lab noted that ransom cases skyrocketed in 2015 especially in Russia, Germany and Kazakhstan.

Last year, at least 94,344 mobile devices were attacked, making the owners unable to use their gadgets unless they paid between $12 and $100, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Philstar.

Ransomware, according to the report, is conducted by using a malware capable of obtaining unlimited rights to the infected device. A malicious app then blocks the device from operating normally by showing a pop-up window that says the user has committed illegal actions and that a payment (ransom) is needed to unlock it.

Although only the three countries were most hit, Kaspersky said ransomware attacks were noted in 156 counties.

It also said that the attacks are likely to increase this year.

Nearly half of the Top 20 Trojans in 2015 were malicious programs displaying intrusive advertising on mobile devices.

“Fraudsters used every available method to propagate these Trojans, through malicious web-banners, fake games and other legitimate apps published in official applications stores,” Kaspersky Lab said.

It added that, in some cases, the virus was positioned as legitimate pre-installed software that has root access to the device. The access then gives attackers an almost unlimited ability to modify information stored in an attacked device and is almost impossible to delete, even after a reboot to factory settings. (R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)