Trojan horse threatens Android users

Experts have warned Android users of applications carrying malware to steal bank accounts, which specifically target owners of Samsung Galaxy phones.

Applications downloaded from the Google Play Store hide a malicious bug called Anatsa, which is a “banking Trojan.”

The term "Trojan horse" refers to a virus capable of performing actions on behalf of the victim, without his knowledge, including withdrawing money from his bank account.

Experts at cybersecurity company Threat Fabric said that the applications pose a "serious" threat to Android users, and more specifically, those who use Samsung's Galaxy phones.

The company explained in a statement: “The unique aspect of this program was its malicious code that specifically targeted Samsung devices. The malicious accessibility service was designed to interact with the user interface elements of Samsung devices, which means that only Samsung users were affected at this stage of the outbreak.” campaign. This indicates that the threat actors initially developed and tested their code exclusively for Samsung devices."

The apps have now been removed from the Google Store, but the cybersecurity team said that even if you download the apps, you may still be at risk, urging Android users to check their devices now and delete those apps.

A Google spokesperson said: “All apps identified in the report have been removed from Google Play.”

Android users are automatically protected from known versions of this malware by Google Play Protect, which is turned on by default on Android devices equipped with Google Play services.

A Google spokesperson added: “Google Play Protect can warn users or block apps known to exhibit malicious behavior, even when these apps come from sources outside Google Play.”

In fact, Anatsa Trojan applications have been spotted since November 2023. “Over the past four months, we have observed five distinct attack waves from this campaign, each focused on different geographic areas,” the experts said.

Experts do not expect the harmful virus to disappear any time soon, and they said: “Based on this pattern, we expect this campaign to continue, with new tools appearing in the official store and expansion into additional targeted regions.”

Users are advised to protect their phones by being careful about the permissions they allow on their devices, and deleting apps that are not used unless they trust the developer.

“Water Output” is a feature on the iPhone that saves it from getting wet

Several reports have spread stating that Apple has warned iPhone users of the danger of drying a phone soaked in water in rice, highlighting a safe feature that may be the best option.

This feature is called Water Eject, as it emits a sound that causes the phone's speakers to vibrate to expel water droplets.

Apple provides iPhones with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, which means the phone will continue to operate in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.

But water may get trapped in the small corners of the phone, even when the iPhone is immersed in water for less than that period.

To prevent this, you can download the Shortcuts app from the App Store, open it to access the gallery, tap on “Get Shortcut” to ensure the Water Eject feature is present in the app, and tap on the “Start” or “Start Water Eject” button.

This will play a tone to release the water, and after 15 seconds, a message will appear stating that the process is complete.

You can also use Apple's digital assistant, Siri, to do this for you by simply saying: "Siri, get the water out."

But Water Eject probably won't solve your problems if the phone is immersed in water for a long time.