Rick Richardson's Views On Technology
  • Home
  • Blog

Android Security Triple Attack

11/12/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Attackers are combining credential phishing, credit card data theft, and malware into a single campaign targeting banking details.

While it's common to see attacks involving phishing or malware, the combination of these tactics in a single campaign targeting Android devices of financial services and banking customers indicates the extent to which attackers are willing to play a more extended game to get to their goal.

The attacks combine phishing with the distribution of the Marcher Android trojan, a form of banking malware which has been active since at least late 2013. Lures previously used to distribute Marcher include a fake software update, a fake security update, and a fake mobile game.

Marcher first originated on Russian underground forums but has since become a global threat, with the trojan targeting bank customers around the world.

Uncovered by researchers at Proofpoint, the latest Marcher campaign has been ongoing since January and uses a multistep scheme to target customers of Austrian banks.

The attacks begin with phishing emails containing a shortened bit.ly link to a fake version of the Bank Austria login page, which has been registered to some different domains containing 'bankaustria' in the title, to trick the user into believing they're visiting the official site.

Those who visit the fake Bank Austria page are asked for their customer details, following which they are asked for their email address and phone number. These details provide the attackers with everything they need to move onto using social engineering to conduct the next stage of the campaign.

Using the stolen information, the attackers send the users a warning in a message featuring Bank Austria branding which claims the target doesn't have the "Bank Austria Security App" installed on their smartphone. 
The message claims EU money laundering guidelines mean that the new Bank Austria app is mandatory for customers and that failure to install it will lead to the account being blocked. The user is directed to a shortened URL and with the claim that following the link will lead to the installation of the app.

Those who click through to this are provided with additional instructions on how to download the app. The directions say that the user needs to alter their security settings to allow the download of applications from unknown sources. This is a part of the Android ecosystem which attackers regularly exploit to install malware, which in this case enables the installation of Marcher.

The fake app requires extensive permissions including writing and reading external storage, access to precise location, complete control over SMS messages, the ability to read contact data, the ability to read and write system settings, the ability to lock the device and more. 

Once fully installed, the malware places a legitimate looking icon on the phone's home screen, again using branding stolen from Bank Austria.

But this version of Marcher isn't just a banking trojan; it also enables the direct theft of credit card details. Those who've installed Marcher are asked for their credit card information when they open applications such as the Google Play store.

The attackers also ask for information including date of birth, address, and password to ensure they have all the data they require to exploit the stolen credentials fraudulently. Each of the overlays is designed to look official via the use of stolen branding.

Data suggests almost 20,000 people clicked through to the campaign, potentially handing their banking details and personal information into the hands of hackers. Similar attacks have also started targeting Raiffeisen and Sparkasse banks.
​
To avoid falling victim to this type of campaign, users should be wary of unusual domains in general and should be skeptical of any email communication from a bank asking for any sort of credentials. Users should also be wary of downloading apps from unofficial sources which ask for extensive permissions.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Rick Richardson, CPA, CITP, CGMA

    Rick is the editor of the weekly newsletter, Technology This Week. You can subscribe to it by visiting the website.

    Rick is also the Managing Partner of Richardson Media & Technologies, LLC. Prior to forming his current company, he had a 28-year career in technology with Ernst & Young, the last twelve years of which he served as National Director of Technology.

    Mr. Richardson has been named to the "Technology 100"- the annual honors list of the 100 key achievers in technology in America. He has also been honored by the American Institute of CPAs with two Lifetime Achievement awards and a Special Career Recognition Award for his contributions to the profession in the field of technology.

    In 2012, Rick was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame by CPA Practice Advisor Magazine. He has also been named to the 100 most influential individuals in the accounting profession in America by Accounting Today magazine.

    In 2017, Rick was inducted as a Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achiever, a registry of professionals who have excelled in their fields for many years and achieved greatness in their industry.

    He is a sought after speaker around the world, providing his annual forecast of future technology trends to thousands of business executives, professionals, community leaders, educators and students.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All
    Artificial Intelligence
    Audit
    Back Up
    Back-Up
    Blockchain
    Climate
    Cloud
    Collaboration
    Communication
    Coronavirus
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Digital Assistant
    Display
    Drone
    Edge Computing
    Education
    Enterprise
    Hardware
    Home Automation
    Internet Of Things
    Law
    Medicine
    Metaverse
    Mobile
    Mobile Payments
    Open Source
    Personalization
    Power
    Privacy
    Quantum Computing
    Remote Work
    Retail
    Robotics
    Security
    Software
    Taxes
    Transportation
    Wearables
    Wi Fi
    Wi-Fi

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.