KATHMANDU: Malware has been detected in various links circulating on social media that claim to distribute various gifts on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Nepal Telecom.
A harmful malware named ‘Formbook’ has been found in such links doing rounds through Messenger, Gmail, short messaging service, among other platforms.
Cyber security expert Bijay Limbu said the malware is a cyber attack targeted at the Nepali corporate sector by Russian cyber criminals. Anyone clicking such links is suspectible to an attack.
Once one clicks on the links, the malware file will automatically get downloaded and get activated in the device and can steal many types of data, including your device’s web browser cache data, screenshots and keystrokes.
According to Limbu, this malware — first detected in 2016 – contributed to 16 percent of the total cyber attacks in the world.
The malware attack typical to Ukraine and Eastern Europe has also spread to Nepal. One is advised to not click on such questionable links.
Even if one accidentally clicks it, s/he should immediately change citical information such as passwords of social media, data related to financial institution, among others, and should backup of important files and reset the device.
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