Beware of this COVID alert app of Canada filled with Ransomware

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As more and more countries are depending on smartphones based technologies and artificial intelligence to contain the spread of COVID 19 pandemic, the government of Canada has also announced that it is soon going to release a COVID Alert app which will help in tracking coronavirus patients easy.

 

But before anything concrete could emerge from government, two websites maintained by a group of hackers are seen spreading CryCryptor ransomware in the disguise of a COVID 19 Tracking app to the populace of Canada in the name of Health Canada.

 

According to the security researchers of ESET, those Android devices which are falling prey to CryCryptor are exhibiting a blue screen with the “ Readme” file which has the hacker’s email in every directory which is encrypted. And the main targets are reportedly photos and videos.

 

However, the good news is that Cybersecurity firm ESET has analyzed the ransomware and is offering a free decryption tool for the victims.

 

The Canadian Center for Cybersecurity was alerted by ESET in the last weekend and sources say that the warning might slightly delay the testing of the COVID Alert app due to be rolled out in Ontario next month.

 

Note- Therefore, it makes complete sense to use a mobile protection solution on a device, and it’s better to install apps found only on the Google Play Store.

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Naveen Goud is a writer at Cybersecurity Insiders covering topics such as Mergers & Acquisitions, Startups, Cyber Attacks, Cloud Security and Mobile Security

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