Important notice: delete this app, it can read messages and steal banking information

This app, once downloaded, gives hackers a key to your device that they can use to read everything on your screen, including your text messages and bank card details.

The app is being advertised as “Telegram Premium” to hide malware known as FireScam. Telegram is a messaging app like WhatsApp and Signal. But there is no such “premium” version, the Sun reports.

Cybersecurity researchers at Cyfirma discovered that the app is being distributed on phishing websites that mimic RuStore – the Russian version of the Google Play store.

Defocus male hand holding phone. Man using smart phone in autumn park. Typing text message or reading social media at mobile phone. Fall background. Cell phone. Communication. Out of focus

While the good news is that the app is not available for download on the official Play Store, it could pose a threat to certain Android owners.

The “Telegram Premium” malware requests permissions to monitor your device’s notifications, as well as all SMS and phone calls as soon as it’s downloaded.

What happens when you download the app?

When victims open the app, they are asked to enter their Telegram login, which allows hackers to steal their data.

Once the hackers have obtained the victim’s Telegram account, they transfer all the stolen information to a special database.

Here, according to the researchers, the hackers can sift through all the information and filter it for valuable details.

The malware also closely monitors all online transactions made through Android devices, which could allow hackers to obtain the victim’s financial information.

Everything the user types can be monitored and copied by the hacker.

Furthermore, the malware can intercept auto-filled data, such as passwords from password managers.