The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued an urgent warning to Nigerians about a fraudulent website masquerading as the Google Play Store and distributing dangerous malware.
In a statement released Friday in Abuja, Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, revealed that cybercriminals have created convincing fake websites mimicking the official Google Play Store to trick users into downloading applications infected with the “Play Praetor Trojan.”
“Cybercriminals are using fraudulent websites designed to mimic the Google Play Store to lure victims into downloading malicious applications,” Umar stated.
According to NITDA, the scammers are distributing links to the counterfeit Play Store through multiple channels, including phishing emails, deceptive advertisements, and text messages.
The agency warned that installing applications from these fake sources gives attackers unauthorised access to victims’ devices, potentially leading to serious consequences.
“This access can lead to data theft, credential harvesting, financial fraud, remote control of the device, and further malware deployment,” Umar explained.
To protect themselves, NITDA advised Nigerians to:
– Download applications only from the official Google Play Store or other trusted sources
– Verify the identity of app developers before installation
– Read user reviews to identify potential scams
– Keep devices and applications updated with the latest security patches
– Install reputable mobile security solutions capable of detecting and blocking such threats
The warning comes amid growing concerns about increasingly sophisticated mobile malware attacks targeting Nigerian smartphone users.
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