Brazil's main target for spyware stealing bank data | Security

Brazil ranks first with the largest number of spyware among Latin American countries. According to an ESET survey, the country concentrates the largest distribution of species programs (27%), followed by Mexico (21%) and Peru (14%). The survey looked at cases of spyware in Latin America from September 2018 to September 2019 and found that the most common threats in the country are Mekotio (24%) and Amavaldo (89%).

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Mekotio impersonates a company to email a malicious link to a victim. When downloading the invoice, the user installs the Trojan. Amavaldo is already a threat that steals bank credentials and financial data, as well as capturing photos via webcam, keylogger and executing codes, for example. It monitors the active windows on the victim's computer and shows a fake popup that mimics the bank to steal a person's private data.

Brazil's main target for spyware stealing bank data Photo: Pond5Brazil's main target for spyware stealing bank data Photo: Pond5

Brazil's main target for spyware stealing bank data Photo: Pond5

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The survey identified a large amount of spyware in Latin American countries, including specific threats, with malicious code targeting countries in the region. This type of spy software, or malware, is maliciously used by an attacker to install a program on the victim's mobile phone or computer without their consent. With it, you can steal personal passwords, bank information, and even credit cards.

Between September 2018 and September 2019, Brazil ranked second with regard to the number of attacks on the Mekotio banking trojan, with 24%, behind only Chile, which has 70%. This type of virus is a company that sends a link to an invoice. When the user downloads the file, he installs the trojan on the computer.

In the case of Amavaldo spyware, Brazil led as the Latin American country with the largest number of attacks, representing 89%, from January 2019 to September 2019. The threat is present in Brazil and Mexico (10% ) and pretends to be a legitimate program to steal bank credentials and financial data. For example, it monitors the active tabs on the victim's computer and shows a fake pop-up window that mimics the bank to steal a person's private data. Amavaldo also captures photos by webcam, keylogger, executes codes, among others.

Tips to protect yourself from spyware

To avoid spyware, it is important to keep your antivirus updated and the anti-malware feature enabled at its latest version. Also, do not click on suspicious advertisements and keep your browser updated and protected. The user should also not download files, programs or open email attachments from unknown and / or suspicious websites. Another tip to install on mobile or tablet only reliable apps.

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