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A Text Message that Can Erase All the Data on your Android Phone

By Kanika Gupta | Update Date: Feb 22, 2016 09:45 AM EST

Heimdal Security, a security company, has recently discovered that the hackers are sending random malicious texts to Android users. If the users click on the link given in the message, the program gets auto-downloaded, giving the administrative rights of your device to the hacker, says the report.

Mazar BOT, the malicious payload, once unleashed allows the hackers to take control of your device and do everything from browsing the internet to sending a text message. However, the biggest concern is that they can also fully erase your android handset, Heimdal says, as reported by The News Daily

Mazar BOT has been up for sale on the Dark Web but this is the first time it has been used in a malevolent sense. Surprisingly, the malware will not auto-download on an Android device that has Russian Language turned on, pointing towards a Russian connection.

It is not clear yet as to how many people have been affected by this hack as the text messages are being sent out randomly. From the looks of it, Mazar BOT may be a part of a bigger hacking strategy than simply erasing the devices. There is also a possibility of the hacker to simply monitor the smartphone owner remotely, reported PC Mag

Heimdal CEO Morten Kjaersgaard said that this seems to be the first time Mazar BOT has been apprehended in "widespread, real world attacks".

He added, "It can do a lot of damage - maybe running up a big phone bill for which the customer would be liable," Mr Kjaersgaard told the BBC.

Heimdal cautions the users, "First of all, NEVER click on links in SMS or MMS messages on your phone. Android phones are notoriously vulnerable and current security product dedicated to this OS are not nearly as effective as they are on computers," BGR reported

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