The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has warned Nigerians about the Playpraetor Trojan, a new cybercrime attack on websites that imitates the Google Play Store.
The phishing campaign enables data theft and various financial fraud.According to a tweet by NITDA, Cybercriminals use fraudulent websites designed to mimic the Google Play Store by luring victims into downloading malicious applications.
The fake links are spread via various social engineering strategies such as scam advertisements, SMS messages, and phishing emails.
NITDA noted that the advisory stems from a detailed report by the Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team Nigeria (CERNT.NG), a division under the agency.
The fraudulent process allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to the victim’s phone and explore vital information, thereby exposing their details.“Once the fake Play Store app is installed, the PlayPraetor Trojan grants attackers unauthorized access to the victim’s device, enabling data theft, credential harvesting, financial fraud, remote control, and other malware deployment,” NITDA said.
