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Lauren Hurley/PA Wire

There's a text message that can end up wiping your Android device clean

The malware is sent via SMS and gives attackers admin rights to your phone, accessing all your information.

ANDROID USERS ARE being warned not to click on suspicious links from text messages after a new type of malware was discovered.

The malware, named Mazar Android Bot, gives the attacker admin rights if it infects a smartphone, allowing them to control it remotely. This could allow them to make calls, read texts and wipe a phone completely.

The malware, which was discovered by Heimdal Security, comes in the form of a text message telling you to click a link so you can download it.

When clicked, it installs and unpacks TOR, software which allows users to browse the web anonymously, without the user’s knowledge before connecting to a specific server.

Once that’s done, an automated SMS with the device’s location will be sent to a specific number with the message “Thank you”. This gives the malware control of your device and can carry out actions remotely.

The only devices that aren’t affected are those with Russian as its main language. Mazer BOT will check the user’s country first and stops the attack if it turns out to be owned by a Russian user.

To protect yourself from such an attack, go into Settings > Security and make sure the ‘Unknown Sources’ option is turned off. This prevents your device from installing anything outside the Google Play Store.

The majority of people would have this switched on but if you install apps from other stores like Amazon’s own app store, then you would likely have it switched off so you could install them.

On top of that, always be careful with text messages or WhatsApp messages that come from unfamiliar numbers, and don’t open any unknown links from messages or web pages.

Read: The classic ZX Spectrum is being re-released as a handheld device >

Read: One of Google’s secret projects was to build automated vertical farms >

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22 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard
    Favourite Gerard
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    Feb 16th 2016, 4:39 PM

    So it’s not a text message that does it. It’s software you foolishly install from a link in a text message.

    Of course that wouldn’t be nearly alarmist enough…

    156
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rónán O'Suilleabháin
    Favourite Rónán O'Suilleabháin
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    Feb 16th 2016, 5:25 PM

    Quite.

    Headline should read:
    “Some dumbasses are still clicking random links sent by numbers unknown to them”

    124
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Shannon
    Favourite Peter Shannon
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    Feb 16th 2016, 4:34 PM

    sneaky feckin russians

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eugene Walsh
    Favourite Eugene Walsh
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    Feb 16th 2016, 4:45 PM

    What, and do without my showbox, mobdro and all the other wonderful stuff things out there. A rouse by alphabet me reckon

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Hughes
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    Feb 16th 2016, 5:19 PM

    You allow unknown sorces to install SB and Mobdro. Then turn it off you silly man. Only turn it in to update said apps and turn it off again.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Raethorne
    Favourite Adam Raethorne
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    Feb 16th 2016, 5:41 PM

    Modbro ya wanna try uktvnow.net a lot better ml.

    11
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Feb 16th 2016, 5:48 PM

    Off is default setting you nerk. You sound about as out there as Jesse Hughes !

    1
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    Mute Alan Farrell
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    Feb 16th 2016, 7:08 PM

    @ Adam Cheers for that, sick of Mobdros stuttering lag-fest. Have been using WorldSportsStream which is a lot better. Uktvnow looks good so far, nice one!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eccouponcode
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    Feb 16th 2016, 7:57 PM

    Don’t forget movie hd

    1
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    Mute J Judd
    Favourite J Judd
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    Feb 16th 2016, 5:51 PM

    Simples don’t click on links sent via sms or call back missed calls from unknown foreign numbers as that’s a scam too

    16
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    Mute Darren
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    Feb 17th 2016, 3:41 AM

    Changed the language on my phone to Russian, Not been able to use it for 3 days but no viruses for me :-)

    12
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    Mute Byyys
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    Feb 16th 2016, 4:27 PM

    I rooted a S5 5.1.1 lollipop eariler…and in stalled a few APP files. bit silly to have unknown sources enabled if you are not sure what you’re doing!

    7
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    Mute John
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    Feb 16th 2016, 4:34 PM

    Did you in stall a few app files?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Byyys
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    Feb 16th 2016, 4:53 PM

    Apk I ment to say!

    1
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    Mute John
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    Feb 16th 2016, 6:27 PM

    Dad, stop embarrassing me on the journal.

    12
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    Mute Michael O'Brien
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    Feb 16th 2016, 5:45 PM

    Anybody know how to get rid of malware on phone. I updated htc m9 and since then I’m getting redirected to pages wanting me to download apps etc. Tried a factory reset but still there.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dara McGann
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    Feb 16th 2016, 6:53 PM

    Stick to pornhub, it’s the other sites that give you those pop ups

    10
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    Mute Sam Cairns
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    Feb 16th 2016, 7:02 PM
    1
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J Judd
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    Feb 16th 2016, 7:48 PM

    Clear your browser history download avg antivirus if you have an android.

    1
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    Mute Michael O'Brien
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    Feb 16th 2016, 8:00 PM

    Did all that

    1
    Dave
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave
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    Feb 16th 2016, 9:11 PM

    Uktvnow.net is beautiful, big fan of kodi too.

    1
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    Mute GenuineDocuments
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    May 6th 2016, 3:30 AM

    Buy Passport,Drivers License original high-quality fake (passportquality@gmail.com) , driver’s licenses, identification cards, stamps and other products for the following countries : Australia, Belgium, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK, USA and many other countries. We are the best producers of quality documents, with more than 1 million of our documents circulating in the world.
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    1
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