Hackers Attack Over 30 Banks By Using Smartphone Apps To Steal [...]

📅 July 23, 2014 - Cybercriminals have attacked more than 30 banks in six countries by tricking customers into downloading malicious software through a smartphone app.

According to MarketWatch, the campaign, dubbed “Emmental” from researchers at Trend Micro, allows malicious software to be installed through an email from well known retailers, which redirects customers to a website that asks users to log in and install a mobile app from the Google Play Store.

Through the app, the hackers are able to fully control users bank accounts.

The cybercriminals have managed to successfully take funds “in the seven figures” from banks in Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, and Japan.

“This is a threat that's going to migrate west,” said Trend Micro's chief officer, Tom Kellermann. “If this attack code is viable against those institutions, then it will be even more prevalent here in the U.S.”

Kellermann noted that Russian slang was found in the app's coding, as well as connections from Romania.

“This shows technical sophistication on par with the intelligence community,” added Kellermann.