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FBI warns hackers targeting mobile banking app users during pandemic

Hackers are increasingly taking aim at mobile banking app users in an effort to steal credentials and commander bank accounts, the FBI warned today.

“The FBI expects cyber actors to attempt to exploit new mobile banking customers using a variety of techniques, including app-based banking trojans and fake banking apps,” the agency said, explaining that an uptick in bank app use during the Covid-19 pandemic make consumers ripe targets for banking trojans and fake banking apps.

“It is not unlikely that with the recent pandemic and bank lobbies being closed to reduce the risk of spreading, that people have switched to using banking apps to access their accounts,” said James McQuiggan, security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, who called for increased security when users log on to banking apps.

“There are a large number of fake mobile apps, with many targeting the immediate payday by stealing banking credentials,” said Chris Hazelton, director of security solutions at Lookout. “However, most of these apps do not make it to public app stores” and “users are often taken to websites that mirror real sites to download fake apps.”

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