New Android porn ransomware demands $300 —or else!

Users of mobile devices running Google's Android operating system may have to look out for a new ransomware that demands $300, a security researcher warned Thursday.

 

Graham Cluley said the newest malware, dubbed Koler, mimics the techniques of Reveton by appearing to lock a victim's phone and masquerading to be from a law enforcement agency.

 

"Koler does not presently exploit any vulnerabilities to install itself silently onto your Android device via a drive-by download. Instead, it asks you to help it grab a tight hold of your device, by popping up pretending to be a driver to help you watch x-rated adult videos," Cluley said in a blog post.

 

Citing findings by security vendor Bitdefender, he said the malware particularly targets Android users who got their apps from non-approved sources or those outside Google Play.

 

He said they must also have granted the app permission to install itself on their devices.

 

But once the malware goes to work, it could send the smartphone's IMEI number to cybercriminals, who can use a Geo-IP lookup to determine where the victim is based.

 

"With that information, the Koler Android malware displays a message customized for your particular country," he said, adding the message demands that the victim pay money.

 

He said Americans will see a message claiming to come from the FBI Department of Defense or USA Cyber Crime Center while British victims will see a similar message but with imagery suggesting it has come from the Metropolitan Police.

 

On the other hand, Cluley said Bitdefender senior e-threat analyst Bogdan Botezatu said the message attempts to scare users into believing their files have been encrypted yet does not have the correct permission to meddle with the device’s files.

 

He also quoted Botezatu as saying the malware can be uninstalled relatively easily.

 

Still, he said Koler is only the second example seen for the Android platform.

 

"(And) as devices running the operating system become ever more popular we can only expect criminals to develop more serious attacks, designed to outwit the unwary," he said. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News