ISF Warns of Virus that Can 'Seize Full Control' of Androids
Lebanon's Internal Security Forces warned Thursday of a virus infiltrating smartphones with the ability to fully control the device and access its contents.
The ISF issued a statement warning of “a virus that has started to spread on Android smartphones in Lebanon and all over the world.”
"Nearly 7,000 cases have been recorded in Lebanon and more than 50,000 worldwide. The virus sends an SMS containing the following text 'I found your private photos here' with the following two links attached: http://wa3.me and http://goo.gl/zopDo4," it added.
When the links are opened, the mobile directly installs an application named “scoop.apk”, according to the ISF statement.
The icon of the newly-installed application does not appear in the applications list, but it sends the virus in an SMS message to all the numbers on the contact list.
The statement stated that "when the virus merges with the Android operating system it will be able to fully control the device and access the mobile phone's contents, such as pictures, messages and so on.”
“It can also control other operations such as making calls and connecting to the internet.”
Based on that, the ISF called on citizens to “be cautious regarding these messages and make sure of the content of each link they receive through SMS before opening it.”
It asked the people “not to install any application or browse any website if they are not sure about its credibility, in order to protect their mobiles.”
M.Y.
Y.R.
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