Simplocker Android Malware Will Encrypt Your Files And Demand A Ransom | TechTree.com

Simplocker Android Malware Will Encrypt Your Files And Demand A Ransom

It’s a new breed of Android malware which will actually demand money to unlock your personal data.

 

There is new piece of malware in Android town called Simplocker which actually demands a ransom for your own data, stored on your mobile phone’s SD card. The malware as experts say, enters the phone while downloading an app that has not been verified. In short, you are indeed safe, if you download apps from Google’s Play Store.

If you have heard about the Cryptolocker malware for Windows PC’s then this one is pretty much similar. This piece of malware enters your mobile device through an app and will look through your device’s SD card in search of photos, videos and documents. Once it has scanned through your SD card, the malware will encrypt the data, make it impossible for you to access your own data on your own device.

What happens next is even more interesting. When you go to open a file, the malware will prompt you to make a payment of 260 Ukrainian hryvnias to decrypt the data and let you access your files. Next up, the malware will even share contacts and other sensitive information from your phone via a TOR network in the hands of those who clearly do not have the right intentions.

According to a blog post by ESET's security intelligence team lead Robert Lipovsky, Android users should not be worried. The malware so far has been known to target only Russian-speaking countries and enters a mobile device via an app called “Sex Xionix” which is apparently available from a third party app store. He further confirmed that the level of encryption was weaker compared to that of Cryptolocker PC malware which officials have yet to take down completely. Still then if you do happen to be one of the unfortunate few, he suggests that you should refrain from paying them as there is no guarantee that the data will get decrypted.
 


TAGS: Software, Mobile Phones, Android

 
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