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Journalism of Courage
F-Secure, a cybersecurity company, has published a report on a harmful Android app Spynet. Being called spyware, the app spreads by smishing technique (SMS phishing) and then goes on to steal users’ personal data, which includes, but is not limited to, accessing SMS and recording calls.
The app isn’t listed on the Google Play Store; instead, it spreads through smishing. When the user clicks on a harmful link, the app gets installed on the phone and takes control of the device. As it is not listed on the Play Store, it does not come under Google Play Protect’s radar.
Spynet is a bit smarter than most spyware apps, as it does not leave any traces of itself, which makes it difficult to spot. In fact, the app does not even appear on the home screen or the recent apps tab. Once it gets installed, the app can access almost everything on the phone, including call logs, SMS, internal storage, and camera logs, and it can even record voice calls, making it one of the most dangerous spyware apps.
Another scary thing about Spynet is the fact that it can be triggered from an external source. According to reports, once installed, it is very difficult to remove this app from the phone, and one might even have to completely reset the phone to uninstall the Spynet app from the device.
Spynet is just one of the spyware apps that exploit the openness of Android. This is why it is really important not to sideload third-party apps unless absolutely necessary, which opens a portal for apps like Spynet. Always install the latest software and security updates and think twice before clicking on a link from an unknown number via SMS or any of the instant messaging platforms.
