The French Banking Federation recently warned that customers of French banks were victims of malicious software, malware. The latter seeks to strip your bank accounts. And this, in particular via your banking identifiers.
A bank account scam
On December 7, 2024, authorities warned of a new threat targeting consumers’ bank accounts. Please note that this is not a cyberattack that directly targets banking institutions or their applications.
As the French Banking Federation clarified in a press release, this is indeed malware installed by users themselves on their devices. This malware, which seems harmless at first glance, can actually endanger your personal information by accessing your bank accounts.
The malware in question is called DroidBot. And it installs itself discreetly on victims’ phones. Most often, this malware masquerades as a legitimate application, such as a web browser, security application or even a game.
To read
Driving license: a major change planned for seniors from 2025? Here’s what to expect
After installation, DroidBot also asks for permission to access the phone’s accessibility services, permission that allows it to collect all kinds of confidential information. And this includes your banking details.
In any case, this is what Crédit Mutuel revealed in a press release. This malware is capable of stealing personal data without your knowledge. Which represents a serious danger for your bank accounts, especially if your banking information is recovered.
Please note that this is not a targeted cyberattack against banks. This is indeed a hacking of users’ phones which can then be exploited for fraud. This type of scam is also based on the negligence of users.
Tips to protect yourself from this scam
They only think about updating their applications or installing useful tools. However, this malware can directly access their bank accounts. To avoid becoming a victim of this type of scam, the French Banking Federation offers several preventive measures.
First, only download apps and content from trusted sources. You should never open attached files sent by suspicious emails. Especially if they come from unknown contacts or dubious sources.
To read
Deactivate this function on your phone when leaving home to avoid bank scams
You should also avoid saving your passwords directly on your phone. Use a password manager to secure your bank accounts, if necessary. Do not hesitate to install an antivirus and a firewall. Make sure they are regularly put up to date to provide optimal protection.
These simple precautionary actions can greatly reduce the risk of malware infection. And protect yourself from bank fraud linked to this threat. A study conducted by Cleafy, a company specializing in computer security, made an alarming revelation.
This malware which targets bank accounts then affected 77 banking institutionsspread across several European countries, including France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom. Among the French banks affected by this threat are establishments such as BNP Paribas, Axa Banque, Boursorama, Caisse d’Epargne.
But also popular banks like La Banque Postale, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale and ING. In addition to banking data, other personal information can also be subject to theft. This is the case for contacts or private messages.
