Somewhere ‘Happy New Year’ Don’t empty your bank account! Cyber ​​​​thugs can target you, know how to avoid it?

At present, an alert is being issued on social media and messaging apps regarding Happy New Year scam. In fact, it is being claimed that cyber thugs can target people amidst messages of Happy New Year greetings. Usually people wish each other Happy New Year through messaging apps. In such a situation, cyber thugs can try to put malware in people’s mobiles by sending APK files in the name of congratulations. Especially Android users can be targeted by this. Actually, most of the people keep the file extension off, in such a situation they download the link or file without checking.

In fact, as soon as New Year arrives, people congratulate each other and cyber thugs can take advantage of this opportunity. Although such incidents have increased in the past years, cyber thugs usually carry out such incidents through videos and photos. This time, APK files may be the way to go.

This is how cyber thugs target people

Actually, cyber thugs send such messages in the name of family or friends, so that no one gets suspicious and the user downloads the file. If the user does this, malware can be downloaded to the phone and due to this, access to photos, gallery, contacts, UPI app, banking details and WhatsApp can be gained. In many cases, the same file is automatically forwarded from the phone to other people. In such situations, people are targeted by cyber thugs. Due to the file extension being off, people are not able to see whether it is a video, photo or any APK file.

Know how to avoid it

In such a situation, users are advised not to download any unknown or suspicious APK file. To avoid this type of cyber fraud, even if the file comes from a number you know, do not download it. If someone sends you a Happy New Year video or photo through messenger apps and it is an installable file, then delete it immediately. Go to the phone’s settings and turn off the option to install apps from unknown sources. Apart from this, set daily transaction limit in UPI app and do not share OTP with anyone. If the file is downloaded by mistake, immediately turn off mobile data, put the phone in safe mode and lodge a complaint on cyber helpline 1930. In such a situation, on the occasion of New Year, you should also be cautious of digital fraud.