This smartphone malware can steal your banking details and delete all your data – Times of India

Android operating system runs on 85%-plus smartphones across the world. system across the globe.This also makes the OS a big target of hackers and cybercriminals. Unlike Apple’s iOS operating system, Android OS is an open source-based OS and it allows users to install third party applications. Though Google warns as well as dissuades users for the same. Google strictly tells users to download apps only from Google Play Store. As downloading apps from third-party app stores can be dangerous. Cybercriminals can use that opportunity to install dangerous malware into users’ smartphones. One such malware that has been in circulation for the past few years is BRATA. Now, as per a new report by computer security firm Cleafy, the malware has not got more features and is spreading quickly in various countries across the globe such as China, UK, Spain and others.
What is BRATA
BRATA is a remote access trojan that can steal your credentials. In simple terms, it is a kind of virus that gets into your smartphone and gathers your banking details for fraudsters to use later. It was first spotted by known cybersecurity company Kaspersky back in 2019 as an Android RAT (remote access tool) At that time, BRATA was mainly targeting Brazilian users.
Now as per the latest report by Cleafy, the malware has been updated with new features such as GPS tracking and ability to perform factory reset. This means that BRATA can now steal all your details and wipe all the data stored in your smartphone without leaving any traces behind.
How BRATA malware works
The malware can be installed on your Android smartphone through an application. These applications are usually deployed on your smartphone through a primary app that can install a secondary app that hides the malware.
The apps that carry BRATA malware may also slip in Google Play Store, however, there’s no proof of the same so far. The malware captures the login details of the banking apps on your phone and sends it to fraudsters as it can use multiple communication channels. The details can be later used to make fraudulent transactions or it can be sold to criminals on the dark web.
How to not become a victim of BRATA
To stay safe from malwares like BRATA, you should not install suspicious third-party applications on your smartphone. Before downloading any app, you should make sure it is published by a trusted developer. You should avoid clicking on links that you receive from anonymous sources.
The second step of security is app permissions. After installing any app, you should check if the app has permissions that can leak your details. Such permissions include access to contacts, passwords, location and many more. To check the permissions that an app has, you can go to Settings > Apps > App management > The app you want to check permissions of > Permissions.