Hackers are using a fake Android app named ‘SafeChat’ to infect devices with spyware malware that steals call logs, texts, and GPS locations from phones.

The Android spyware is suspected to be a variant of “Coverlm,” which steals data from communication apps such as Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, Viber, and Facebook Messenger.

    • thepixelfox@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Or they get lucky and it’s an older person. My mum would probably fall for that and she’s in her 50s and been on the internet for like 20+ years now. XD

      • El Barto@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Bro, sorry, but your mom is not that old. If she falls for scams, it won’t be because of her age. Source: am close to 50.

        • Tangent5280@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          50 year olds today were in their 20s during the 1990s, when the internet was the wild west and what you could do with a computer was limited by what you knew about computers and how much time you had;

          I’m reasonably sure that today’s 50 year olds that had a computer in their teens and twenties is more likely to be more knowledgeable about computers and networks than the same age groups today.

          The internet has been sanitised and made much more rigid and user friendly now.

        • thepixelfox@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          That was my point. My mum isn’t that old and she’d fall for it even with internet experience.

          And if you’re insulting my mum’s intelligence, you’re an asshole. She’s smart, just not really that savvy when it comes to technology. Everyone has their weak points, even geniuses. She still calls me up asking how to log into netflix. So while she’s smart, she’s not tech savvy. And they’re the kinds of people that these scams hope for.

          • El Barto@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Apologies, kind poster. I didn’t mean to insult your mom. But I can see how my comment may have looked like that, so I’ll humbly accept your indignation.

            From my POV, it sounded like you were saying “50 year olds are dumb lol,” but that wasn’t the case. All good.

            • thepixelfox@kbin.social
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              1 year ago

              Communication isn’t my strong point. I know what I mean but often putting what I mean into words fails to get my point across. No worries. :)

              Nah, was merely stating she’s in her 50s and would probably fall for something like that. My gran was worse. Oh my days, the amount of times I had to sort her laptop for her cause she’d click sketchy links. God rest her soul. But even she understood netflix. Lmfao. I’m not really that tech savvy, but since I’m the 90s kid, I’m designated tech support.

      • MagicShel@programming.dev
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        1 year ago

        My mom is nearing 70. She would definitely fall for shit like this. But having been burnt a few times, today she had a zoom call and asked for tech support and I walked her through it and when it agreed for permission for zoom too make changes to her computer (to install) she was suspicious AF. I was proud of her. I mean if you’re going to be un-savvy on the internet, best to be overly skeptical than under.

        • thepixelfox@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          Thankfully my mum doesn’t really use her laptop much, mainly for going on Amazon or ordering her groceries. Stuff like that. She asks me questions about her phone a lot. I don’t even remember what phone she has. I just have to take educated guesses by using mine as a baseline. I guess cause I’m the oldest by like 20 years and have like 4 computers and a lot of gaming tech, she just assumed I know what I’m doing. Haha.

          Glad your mum is becoming sceptical of things online. Definitely better to be over sceptical with technology these days. I’ve shifted to Linux on everything, except my old ass MacBook which is almost dead. Too many companies out there trying to steal data and personal info now.

          • MagicShel@programming.dev
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            1 year ago

            I actually just went all in on Linux a couple of weeks ago when I got my new SSD. I had planned to dual boot but I haven’t bothered cloning my old drive and haven’t needed it. I think it has arrived.

            • thepixelfox@kbin.social
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              1 year ago

              I was worried about switching, I’m not good with change. But I love Linux. It’s so much better, and it looks simpler and easier to navigate. I’m lucky my partner knows what to do if anything goes funky though, cause that stuff confused me.

  • Bappity@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    oldest trick in the book. come on people do you really think an application called safe chat is gonna be safe, 100% real omg not fake!!!1!1!!!