Breaking News
Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta

NCC Lists Measures To Guard Against Attack Online Banking Apps

Ebuka Daniel

The Nigerian Communications Commission on Friday alerted millions of Nigerian telecom consumers of the existence of new, high-risk and extremely-damaging, Malware called Flubot.

A malware is a generic word used to describe a virus or software, designed specially to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.

The NCC said based on the information it received on October 21, 2021, from the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), Flubot “targets Androids with fake security updates and App installations”.

The ngCERT affirmed that Flubot “impersonates Android mobile banking applications to draw fake web view on targeted applications.”

It said the goal transcends stealing personal data and essentially targets stealing of credit card details or online banking credentials.

The NCC said in a statement that FluBot is circulated through Short Message Service (SMS) and can snoop “on incoming notifications, initiate calls, read or write SMS and transmit the victim’s contact list to its control centre.”

This malware, the statement signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs of the NCC attacks Android devices by pretending to be “FedEx, DHL, Correos, and Chrome applications.” 

It also compels unsuspecting users to alter the accessibility configurations on their devices in order to maintain continuous presence on devices.

The statement reads in part, “The new malware undermines the security of devices by copying fake login screens of prominent banks, and the moment the users enter their login details on the fake pages, their data is harvested and transmitted to the malware operators’ control point from where the data is exploited by intercepting banking-related One Time Passwords (OTPs) and replacing the default SMS app on the targeted Android device.

“Consequently, it secures admittance into the device through SMS and proceeds to transmit similar messages to other contacts that may be on the device it has attacked enticing them into downloading the fake app.

“It suffices to say that, when Flubot infects a device, it can result in incalculable financial losses. 

“Additionally, the malware creates a backdoor which grants access to the user’s device, thus enabling the invader or attacker to perform other criminal actions, including launching other variants of malware.”

In view of this discovery and understanding of the process by which this malware operates, and in order to protect millions of telecom consumers and prevent criminal forces, irrespective of location, from using telecom platforms to perpetrate fraud and irredeemable damages, the NCC  reiterate the advisory of ngCERT that telecoms users should not click on the link if they receive a suspicious text message, and do not install any app or security update the page asks them to install.

It advice the use of updated antivirus software that detects and prevents malware infections, as well as the application of critical patches to the system and application.

It also called for the use of strong passwords and enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) over logins, as well as regular back-up of data.

It added, “If you have been affected by this campaign, you should reset your device to factory mode as soon as possible. This will delete any data on your phone, including personal data.

“Do not restore from backups created after installing the app. You may contact ngCERT on *[email protected]* for technical assistance.

“You will also need to change the passwords to all of your online accounts, with urgency, around your online bank accounts.

“If you have concerns that your accounts may have been accessed by unauthorised people, contact your bank immediately.”

As the Commission intensifies efforts in ensuring increased broadband access, enabling telecoms consumers to carry out their legitimate activities more efficiently and effectively online, it also restates its commitment to empowering consumers through useful information and education to protect them from falling victims of all kinds of cyber-attack while online.

This, it added, explains the rationale for the launch of telecom sector’s Centre for Computer Security Incident Response by NCC on 30th September, 2021.

About Editor

Check Also

Upscale the Quality of Your Products to Meet global standards, WTO DG charges Shea Producers

The World Trade Organisation, on Tuesday, charged Nigeria and other African countries to improve the …

Leave a Reply