Gardaí in Monaghan have issued a warning in relation to spyware software called FluBot, which they have described as “malicious software affecting users of Android phones”. They said the spyware can potentially allow criminals to steal passwords, financial and personal information from mobile devices. “The scammers typically send a text message containing a link for the victim to click on to access details of a missed package delivery,” a Garda spokesperson stated. “When the link is clicked, the victim is then directed to a fake website replicating the legitimate delivery company’s site. “The victim will then be asked to download two files, which are banking Trojans, containing malicious code. Users will then be prompted to manually override and allow an untrusted app to download onto their phone.”
The Gardaí have advised the public not to click on the link if they receive such a message, and to delete the message. Anyone expecting a delivery should check on its status through the relevant company’s official website. “If you have clicked on the link and have installed the app, you are advised to perform a factory reset on the device and reset any passwords. If you use the same passwords on other accounts, you are advised to change those also,” the Gardaí stated. “When restoring backups, do not restore from any backups created after you installed the ….
