German tax authorities warned consumers on Monday that the malware known as “Godfather” was targeting around 400 banking and cryptocurrency apps worldwide, “including those from providers in Germany.”
The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) said in a statement Monday it was unclear how the malware infected consumers’ devices, but that it was currently recording user input on banking and crypto apps.
BaFin still has to clarify how the software gets onto electrical devices, but it does know that the “Godfather” Trojan tries to get people to enter their access data on simulations of official banking apps. It can then collect the login credentials and transmit them to cyber criminals.
The malware also sends push notifications to receive two-factor authentication codes. With this data, individuals or teams of people using technology to commit malicious activities could potentially access consumers’ accounts and wallets, BaFin said.
Citizens offered safety advice
In a video by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), consumers receive tips on the safe use of apps on mobile devices.
Information about the malware is also available on the BSI website.
Warnings about “Godfather” first appeared in December, with reports suggesting the malware was affecting Android devices and targeting users in 16 countries.
According to reports, cybersecurity experts from Group-IB first discovered the “Godfather” in 2021, but the Trojan has since undergone significant code upgrades, leading to a spike in activity in recent months.
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