Latest Mobile Device Malware: 'Gazon' Hijacks Thousands of Android Devices Around The World
AdaptiveMobile has recently uncovered a mobile malware outbreak called "Gazon," which uses phone contacts to spread itself to other mobile devices.
A new mobile malware mass infection dubbed "Gazon" has recently been discovered by mobile security firm, AdaptiveMobile. The message-initiated malware takes hold of a user's mobile phone contacts to propagate itself by sending messages containing links to fake Amazon vouchers. When the bogus links are opened, "Gazon" is installed on the new Android device.
Originating from a Facebook account in the U.S., the malware infection started making its rounds in February 25, and infecting thousands of Android smartphones in over 30 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, India, Korea, Mexico, and the U.K.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Touted as "one of the single largest messaging-initiated mobile malware outbreaks" ever recorded, "Gazon's" global reach has led to 16,000 click-throughs across a number of channels including email and Facebook, with SMS as the primary distribution channel responsible for 99 percent of the malware spread.
"Gazon" masquerades as an application offering free Amazon vouchers. Exploiting the victims' trust when receiving messages from their contact list, the malware invites users to click on the links to the fake Amazon vouchers leading to other pages that prompt them to download games from Google Play. Meanwhile, "Gazon" harvests contact numbers from the victims' phones and sends the same spam emails to them, while the malware author earns money from the victims' click-throughs.
According to AdaptiveMobile, it has encountered more than 4,000 infected smartphones and tablets connected to major U.S. telco networks, and has currently blocked more than 200,000 of the spam messages sent from these devices.
"To be able to detect, protect against and remediate from new threats it is critical to undertake constant proactive monitoring and control," AdaptiveMobile's SVP for Security Practice, Simeon Coney told RealWire.
Mobile device users are advised not to install suspicious software, and if their devices have already been infected, they can choose to have their Android mobile handsets reformatted, or acquire a security solution from AdaptiveMobile.
