Cybercharity firm ESET’s malware researcher Lukas Stefanko about a SMS message Tweeted Is, which advises people to download the app for registration for Covid -19 vaccination. The link of the app is also given in this message. This app is targeting Indian users and according to the researcher, it mimics ‘Covid-19 vaccine free registration’.
Researcher says that the link given in SMS installs this warm app in the phone. After this, it sends all the contacts included in the phone to a similar link message through SMS without user’s knowledge. In this way it is spreading rapidly. This application also acquires unnecessary permission, through which the data of users can be accessed by the attackers.
This app was initially being spread under the name Covid-19 and later through updates Namely Vaccine sign up. Not only this, a light mode has also been made, through which the attackers can also target users with low-end mobile devices and increase their reach. Support for dual-sim connectivity has also been found in this app.
Our advice is that you should not get into the stars of any such SMS message and make your close ones aware of such scams. Also keep in mind that registrations for current Covid-19 vaccine are on only Cowin portal as well as Aarogya Setu and UMANG apps.
There are also some third-party sites, through which you can get information about the availability of slots. The government has also given the option to find its nearest Covid-19 vaccination center using MyGov Corona Helpdesk Chatbot.
