Stick to the App Stores

You may be tempted to load apps from App stores via phishing emails and links as you surf the web or scroll through your feeds.

There's a new danger lurking for Android phone users: a fake version of the popular messaging app Telegram that steals your personal information. This fake app is being spread through websites that pretend to be official app stores, particularly one that looks like a Russian app store called RuStore.

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How the Scam Works:
Cybersecurity experts have discovered that scammers are creating fake websites on a platform called GitHub. These websites look like RuStore and offer a "premium" version of Telegram. If you download this "premium" app, you're actually installing a program that secretly installs harmful software onto your phone.
This harmful software then tricks you into entering your Telegram login information on a fake screen, stealing your username and password. But it doesn't stop there.

What the Fake App Does:
This fake app can also:

• Read your messages: It can see your text messages, including those from other apps.
• See what you copy: It can track anything you copy and paste on your phone.
• Listen to your calls (potentially): It asks for permission to access your phone calls, which is a big red flag.
• Steal your banking information: It watches for when you're making online purchases and tries to steal your credit card details.
• Watch what you do on your screen: It can track which apps you use and how long you use them.

​How to Stay Safe:
The best way to protect yourself is to only download apps from the official Google Play Store. Don't download apps from websites or links you find online, especially if they're offering "premium" versions of apps for free… If you see a Telegram app being offered outside of the Google Play Store, don't download it. It's likely a scam designed to steal your information.
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Ep280

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