NCC Identifies 5 Malicious iOS and Android Apps, Advises Users to Uninstall Them Immediately

Alt: = "NCC Chairman, Umar Garba Dambatta"

The Nigerian Communication Commission says it has identified five mobile apps with malicious extensions.

The five Apps with malicious extensions are McAfee Mobile, Netflix Party, Netflix Party 2. 

NCC-CSIRT said the five google chrome extensions identified have a high possible damage potential, and have so far been downloaded for more than 1.4 million times on Google Play Store and Apps Store. NCC explained that chrome extensions have invasive functionality capable of stealing users’ data, which the users are unaware.

“The users of these chrome extensions are unaware of their invasive functionality and privacy risk. Malicious extensions monitor victims’ visits to e-commerce websites and modify the visitor’s cookie to appear as if they came through a referrer link. Consequently, the extensions’ developers get an affiliate fee for any purchases at electronic shops,” NCC said in a statement.

NCC also explained that despite the efforts of Google team in removing several browser extensions from its Chrome Web Store, totally stopping malicious extensions may be difficult. The NCC-CSIRT, therefore, advised mobile and internet consumers to be cautious when installing any browser extension, and those already using the aforementioned extensions to uninstall them for their privacy safety.

“These include removing all listed extensions from their chrome browser manually. Internet users are to pay close attention to the promptings from their browser extensions, such as the permission to run on any website visited and the data requested before installing it.

“Although, some extensions are seemingly legit, due to the high number of user downloads, these hazardous add-ons make it imperative for users to ascertain the authenticity of extensions they access.”

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