Telegram download on mind? BEWARE of fake Telegram apps

Telegram download can be dangerous! Fake Telegram apps are reported to be hacking devices and stealing users' data.

Fake Telegram download can prove to be very costly for users. (Bloomberg)

After WhatsApp and other social media apps, reports are now highlighting the risk of fake Telegram downloads! Scammers are now trapping users with fake Telegram apps. It has been reported that there are fake Telegram apps available on the Internet and those who download them have suffered loss of data and more. So, if you do a Telegram download, make sure it is from a genuine source as otherwise your device can be hacked. Cybersecurity researchers reported that the fake Telegram apps are posing a huge threat to users as they easily bypass antivirus systems.

Hackers are transferring Purple Fox malware through fake Telegram

As reported by Minerva Labs, founded in 2014 by former officers of the Israeli Defence Forces who served in elite cyber forces, duplicate installers of Telegram app are being widely circulated on the Internet. These have hidden Windows-based 'Purple Fox' malware that compromise users systems. Minerva reported that a large number of malicious installers have been found delivering the 'Purple Fox' rootkit version using the same attack chain. This malware is either delivered via email or downloaded from phishing websites.

They have mentioned that the fake Telegram apps installers have a compiled AutoIt (a freeware BASIC-like scripting language) script called “Telegram Desktop.exe.” This is the first stage of the attack after which a new folder named “TextInputh” is created and a legitimate Telegram installer and a malicious downloader is dropped.

The portal has explained that the malware is infects a system through a chain of files that work together. These attacks on devices can run effectively without being detected. In its statement, Minerva said, “The beauty of this attack is that every stage is separated to a different file which are useless without the entire file set. This helps the attacker protect his files from AV detection.”

https://blog.minerva-labs.com/malicious-telegram-installer-drops-purple-fox-rootkit

The malware Purple Fox was first discovered in 2018 and is believed to be one of the most malicious malware that can be planted in a system beyond the reach of security solutions and evade detection. Once it is infected to the system, it allows the backdoor to spread more rapidly.

Users are advised to download Telegram app from legitimate sources such as the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store only. They should avoid apk versions of apps or apps carrying suspicious links from any other website.