Mobile Security Alert

By: TXRB Staff | 22 Oct 2012


The Federal Bureau of Investigation has recently issued a consumer warning of new malware attacks against mobile devices. The alert from the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a unit of the FBI, addresses two new Trojans known as Loozfon and FinFisher. Recent attacks showed Loozfon has the ability to steal a mobile user’s phone number as well as contact details. In one type of Loozfon attack, unsuspecting consumers were lured in by advertisements promoting fraudulent work-at-home opportunities. The alert does not specify how those ads were promoted – through e-mail, SMS/text or both. But the FBI warns that links within the ads lead to websites designed to push Loozfon to users’ device. FinFisher, on the other hand, is spyware that targets smart phones, hijacking specific components that enable hackers to remotely control and monitor a compromised device, regardless of its location. The spyware is transmitted to a smart phone by clicking infected web links or by opening SMS messages sent directly to the mobile user, usually falsely appearing to provide links to system updates.

This message is intended to inform and remind everyone to please use extra care and caution when using your mobile device and to not click on and delete any emails and texts from unknown sources.

 

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