Andreed ranks among the most widespread cyber threats in the Czech Republic for the second year already, while attacking in waves in the country. In the past month, the number of detections was the highest since the middle of last year – it collected a share of 17.52%. At the same time, other threats reached a share of only percentage units.
Last year in July, its share of detections among other threats reached 13.69%, in August it was only 11.41%. In both months, he was even second in the viral statistics. However, in September this uninvited visitor shot up to 17.35%, which is still lower than this March.
Agent Tesla on the decline, but still the most widespread virus
Safety
Although the share fell to 15.98% in October, the number of detections increased again to 16.29% in November. The December drop to 13.47% thus evoked that Andreed is on the decline again.
But new data from security experts from the antivirus company Eset makes it clear that this uninvited visitor is gaining strength again. In January, the number of detections jumped upwards to 14.77%, in February it was 15.26% and in March the already mentioned 17.52%.
People let him into the device themselves
“The fact that the Andreed adware has been at the head of our regular statistics for so long shows above all that the attackers are still paying – that is, that users in the Czech Republic are still downloading it,” stated Martin Jirkal, head of the analytical team at the Prague branch of Eset.
According to him, people should be careful what applications they download to their smartphones and tablet computers. “In the case of the Andreed adware, attackers repeatedly try to lure us into free games, which we usually come across in third-party stores and online storage,” the security expert stated.
“However, downloading outside of official stores and distribution points today is practically always a guarantee that we will download malicious code in addition to the game or various tools,” Jirkal pointed out.
Underrated adware
Andreed belongs to the malicious codes of the adware type. Therefore, the attackers do not try to steal any sensitive data through it, but they display excessive advertising on the attacked machine, from which they subsequently profit.
Adware attacks are not as devastating as in the case of extortion viruses or similarly insidious malicious codes, but they can still make the use of phones and tablets very unpleasant. “Adware, as a type of cyber risk, displays a lot of aggressive pop-ups, has a negative effect on the performance and endurance of the device, and ultimately can show the user a link to a dangerous website,” the security expert added.
How to protect mobile phones and tablets?
Cyber threats are also increasingly affecting mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Few people bother with the security of these devices. That is why hackers attack mobile devices more and more often.
It is therefore very important to protect not only PCs, but also tablets and smartphones with antivirus programs and other security tools. Special programs can protect against such uninvited guests. In addition to classic antiviruses, these are, for example, applications that focus only on spyware and the search for Trojan horses.
Only one security program of its kind should be installed on a mobile phone or tablet at a time. Two antiviruses on a disk can do some nice mischief. However, antivirus alone is not a guarantee of safety.
Updates are also very important, because errors in the operating system and various programs are very often used by computer hackers to smuggle uninvited visitors into the device.
“Junk gun” ransomware scares experts. He can attack anyone
Safety
