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Selfmite is a Worm, which is a sub categorized version of virus. Worm is a piece of malicious code that uses system networks to replicate themselves imposing a major threat onto the system. Basically worms do not require human intervention whereas viruses do.
There have been many viruses that were found by developers for a malicious purpose in order to destroy or exploit the victim. Recently, Android phones has been known to be infected by a malicious software called the Selfmite.b.
What is Selfmite.B?
Selfmite.b is categorized as a type of a computer worm to infect the android devices. It infects the device and presents unwanted ads to the user on the compromised machines. This Infectious mite is sent through SMS.
Android Selfmite.b was found and identified on the 10th of October 2014. It has been found that only a few amount of devices have got infected and fortunately the removal of this computer worm, Android Selfmite.b is very much easy.
It also contributes a very less impact on the infected PC. Android Selfmite.b affects only the devices that has android operating system. Selfmite.b acts upon a simple mechanism to infect the system, It traces the user’s contacts list.
Hence finds its into the other android devices through SMS. It has the capability to spread very easily from one device to the other.
A few months back the Android Selfmite.A was identified by the security experts imposing an unauthorized app to replace the existing Android software, It has also pulled out the first 20 contacts sending its own infectious content to the contact via SMS and thereby finding a place to carry out this suspicious task.
Now the Selfmite.b has been found as variant of Selfmite.A. Selfmite.b disguises it as a Google Plus app
How it works?
This android specific virus uses a botnet-style to decide on what next and not pre-programming any malicious aspects and wasting time, It also offers hands to download data.
The downloaded information drawn through HTTP and defines the settings, as to how many SMS it should send, The text format and content of the SMS to be followed and much more
• Sending SMS:
Selfmite.b has less virulence when compared to a similar version of Android Virus Andr/SmsSend-FA, which is also known as Heart App. This type of malicious piece of code makes the most use of SMS by screening the first 99 contacts and hence sending infectious SMS to the chosen list of contacts. The law enforcement and mobile phone operators, with their attention turning into this malicious activity hence hand cuffed the cyber criminals involved in this activity.
The most common text used in this SelfMite.b are Hi buddy and Hey, try it in the form of SMS
The SMS links were not found to be very specific, as they are totally dependent on the URL shortening service by means of an Http redirect.
The SMSes are totally based on assumption with the similarities of Selfmite.A, that atleast one of the SMSes would be infectious, hence making the new variant as infectious as the old one.
It is a known fact that hackers would change the the SMS formatting and content of the new variant and hence the new type of SMS will surely be infectious.
If you come across such messages on your android device please do not open it and hence immediately delete it. even when the messages comes from your friends.
• Self Protection:
Selfmite.b copies the self protection aspect of an another variant of FBILock-A malware that was identified in July after the Selfmite.a
It does this by registering as new android device administrator implementing security based feature by enhancing safety measures
With this method, the crooks make the removal of hardware more difficult.
Now that you go to the menu options, heading to the Settings and further tap on the fake Google Plus app icon, you will not get to uninstall the app, so as the power of administration
Now how to sort it out?
To solve this mind breaking puzzle of insecurity
• Go to the Settings options, click security and then choose Device administrators option that is available, you will be able to find a deactivate option, by doing this, the malware’s administrative privileges gets deactivated.
• Dispose the app by going to the apps in the Settings menu.
• More inputs revenue generating – Selfmite.b:
SlfMite-B was established mainly to mint money and not just to create an havoc of establishing a nefarious act.
- It might contain a URL that helps you to download a graphical icon
- A name relating to that icon
- URL that redirects you to the page once the icon is clicked
On clicking the icon the revenue is the outcome for the hackers
The icon is a malware, that is programmed to extract personal data from your android device, It also gains access to the smartphone’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), and helps in viewing the user’s contact list.
A simple solution to avoid the puzzle and to save the users who are “All at Sea” with such a concept on virtual insecurity, Comodo offers a wide range of security products that includes Comodo Antivirus for Android to ensure virus removal instantly off the infected device.
Save your Android smartphones the better way using Comodo security products!
