Android trojan erases all data from SD card and texts all contacts every 5 seconds

Researchers yesterday discovered a Trojan that erases data from the SD card and blocks popular chat apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Hangout and the default SMS app. The Trojan that goes by the name "Elite Trojan", also sends a SMS every five seconds to all contacts in the address book with the message "Elite has hacked you. Obey or be hacked."

myce-obey-or-be-hacked-malware

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The same message is also sent to anyone who sends a message to an infect Android phone, according to  Russian antivirus company Doctor Web. The Elite Trojan is hidden in a download that presents itself as Angry Birds Transformers. When the "game" is activated it asks the user for additional permission. By pressing activate the user is fooled into "ensuring the correct installation of Angry Birds Transformers". In reality the user gives the Trojan access the to SD card after which the Trojan formats the SD card and erases all data.

When that's done the Trojan remains active and waits till the user starts a chat applications. The Trojan then blocks the active windows of the application and displays an image with the text "OBEY or Be HACKED" instead.

The malware also hides "message received" notifications and as long as its active the Trojan sends out a message to all contacts in the address book every five seconds. Doctor Web advises users to not install apps from unknown and unreliable sources which suggests that the Elite Trojan occurring as Angry Birds Transformers is spread on official application markets and websites.

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