If you have downloaded a QR and barcode scanner from the Google Play Store, it may be a Trojan trying to get your bank details. So check your apps quickly.
A supposedly harmless Android app contains a dangerous Trojan. (Source: Cleafy)
- A QR scanner from the Google Play Store contains a dangerous Trojan.
- This reads sensitive data for online banking or insurance.
- Be sure to uninstall the application to prevent further damage.
In order to be published in the Google Play Store, apps must go through a security check. From time to time, however, dubious providers and criminals succeed in deceiving Google. This is also the case with the “QR Code & Barcode Scanner” app.
As the generic name suggests, the app is an off-the-shelf scanner for QR and barcodes. According to reviews in the store, it also does its job without any problems. After installation, the app will prompt you to update via a pop-up notification. However, the Trojan TeaBot gets hidden on your smartphone via this, reports the Cleafy portal, which deals with online fraud.
The task of the malware is to search your smartphone for apps related to banking, insurance and cryptocurrency. If you log in to a corresponding application, the TeaBot simulates the login mask and thus accesses your data. The Trojan can already imitate more than 400 apps.
Uninstall app and change access data
The application has since been removed from the Play Store. If you already have “QR Code & Barcode Scanner” installed, you have to delete the program yourself. More than 10,000 downloads were recorded in the store until the app was exposed.
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There are still many similar-sounding and virus-free QR scanners available on the Google Play Store. To find out whether you have the affected app installed, you must check whether an entry “QR Code Scanner: Add-On” or “com.nnawozvvi.pamwhbawm” appears in your app list. In this case you have downloaded the Trojan.
If you have used the app, you should check your bank statements for suspicious debits and, to be on the safe side, change your login data for online banking and insurance.
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