It is more common for malware to be discovered on Android, but it is less common for security researchers to warn about it. But BlackRock is now really being warned, because it can be much more dangerous than similar malware.
The makers of BlackRock have focused their sights on popular apps, such as PayPal, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Uber, Netflix, eBay, Amazon, Telegram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Snapchat, Skype, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, Tumblr , Pinterest, Tinder, Grindr and even Google’s own Play Store. In total, it concerns 337 victims.
The solution to this problem is not simply removing the apps and replacing them with less popular or known variants (there is another risk involved). But you do well to pay attention to exactly what you install and where you get your updates from.
Malware on Android: Apps themselves are not harmful
Let’s be clear: the apps themselves are not dangerous or rogue. But malware BlackRock now relies heavily on the popularity of the apps and hopes that people download applications and updates from unsafe sources. So make sure you always download your updates from Google Play, even when such an app asks to do so from another source.
If such an app requires you to download something outside the Play Store, do not do that. That is simply the wrong signal, even for people who unfortunately do not have a valid Android license and therefore no legitimate Google Play variant on their smartphone and are dependent on external sources.
Should your smartphone be affected by the BlackRock trojan virus, it is not entirely clear what you can do about it to get rid of it. That is why it is so important that you pay close attention to where something comes from when downloading. Prevention is better than cure, also for computer viruses.
Scary malware is dangerous
The scary Android malware aims to steal all kinds of personal information, so that an attempt can eventually be made to rake in credit card information. This can be done via text message or e-mail, for example, when the makers have your e-mail address or telephone number.
What makes this malware so dangerous is that it is very simple in design. Similar Trojans work well because more options are added later, but here it works differently. BlackRock really focuses on the core functions that allow personal information to be retrieved and stolen.
Moreover, the malware targets a large number of popular apps. This is a larger number than average, so many more users are at risk. Almost everyone who uses apps on Android can be at risk, so caution is required. It doesn’t matter where you live or what kind of device you have: you don’t venture outside the danger zone.
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