Signs Your Phone Has Been Hijacked and How to Stay Safe
A Small Button Appears in the Corner of the Screen, Warning of a Hijacked Phone and Wiped Accounts
SHB, or the Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank, alerts customers to suspicious signs that their devices may have been hijacked: accelerated battery drainage and slower performance, along with the emergence of unfamiliar applications on their phones.
Additionally, if applications automatically turn on even when the phone is idle, or if there is a sudden, unexpected depletion of battery life, or the device becomes unusually warm, it indicates that accessibility permissions have been granted to unknown applications, and these permissions cannot be revoked. This is a strong indication that the customer’s device may have been hijacked.
Techcombank advises that if customers suspect their device has been infected with malware, they should disconnect their phone from WiFi and mobile data. They should immediately contact the bank’s support channels, such as the 24/7 hotline, send an email, or visit the nearest branch to block all services. Concurrently, they should take their phone to a reputable phone service center to reset it to its original settings.
Meanwhile, ACB provides customers with a set of actions to take if they suspect their phone has been hijacked or infected with malware. These include intentionally entering the wrong password five consecutive times to lock access to the banking application or contacting the bank to temporarily block the service. They also recommend scrutinizing all applications on the phone and only downloading applications from the CH Play Store for Android devices and the App Store for iOS devices.
To prevent exploitation by malicious actors, ACB suggests adhering to the “3 Don’ts”: Don’t click on links sent via messages or social media from unverified sources; Don’t install applications from unknown sources; and Don’t heed the instructions of individuals claiming to be tax, police, or public service officials, regardless of the form of communication.
VPBank, on the other hand, requests customers to disable all accessibility permissions for potentially harmful applications before successfully logging into VPBank NEO and performing transactions. The warning process will repeat if the customer’s device continues to grant accessibility permissions to new risky applications.
Security experts affirm that this action can provide 100% protection for customers who have inadvertently granted accessibility permissions to unsafe applications.
Numerous other banks, including Vietcombank, VietinBank, Agribank, and TPBank, have issued similar warnings to protect their customers from sophisticated scams.
What to Do If Your Phone Has Been Hijacked by Scammers
According to Mr. Ngo Minh Hieu, a cybersecurity and digital forensics expert at the National Cyber Security and Safety Monitoring Center, all the victims mentioned above were scammed using the same “formula.”
Warning: Your Phone Has Been Hijacked, and Your Bank Account Has Been Wiped Clean
Initially, the scammers contact the victims via phone calls, Zalo, or Facebook, inviting them to the tax office or the police station to pay taxes or complete electronic identification. Subsequently, they persuade the victims to install applications as per their instructions.
Mr. Hieu explains that these scammers employ deceptive tactics, such as disguising fake websites as the Google Play Store (CHPlay), forging the logo of the Vietnamese government, mimicking the installation button to redirect victims to a malicious .apk file, and fabricating positive reviews and comments about the application.
To avoid falling prey to such scams, the cybersecurity expert emphasizes the importance of refraining from downloading unfamiliar applications and following the instructions of unknown entities. He also advises verifying information by directly contacting the tax office or the police.
Individuals should only download applications from two official sources: the CHPlay and App Store. Most importantly, never grant any application full control over your phone.
If you have already clicked on a link to download an application, immediately enable airplane mode or power off your device. Then, remove the SIM card and take your phone to a repair shop for a factory reset.
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