A new Android ransomware family sets unlock password on devices

  • 15 September 2014
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by Pierluigi Paganini on September 15th, 2014
 

Security experts at Dr.Web spotted a new strain of Android ransomware which sets unlock password on compromised devices and is also able to send SMS.

Ransomware is one of most prolific cyber threats to criminal ecosystem and according to security firms cyber gangs are increasing use the malicious code improving its capabilities with new features. Recently, experts at Doctor Web security firm have detected a new strain of Android ransomware  which is equipped with a wider array of innovative features. In addition to locking a smartphone and demanding a ransom, the Android ransomware is able to set a screen unlock password by enabling a standard system feature. According to the experts the Andorid ransomware is also able to send short messages, a feature that could be exploited by bad actors to call SMS premium services.
The threat actors spread the Android ransomware, dubbed Android.Locker.38.origin, masquerading it as a system update, during the execution it requests access to the device’s administrative features and mimics update installation.
 


 
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