The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued a stern warning to Nigerians about a fraudulent website impersonating the Google Play Store and distributing dangerous malware.
In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Head of Corporate Affairs and Media Relations at NITDA, disclosed that cybercriminals are using the fake website to spread a new malware strain identified as the Play Praetor Trojan.
“Cybercriminals are using fraudulent websites designed to mimic the Google Play Store to lure victims into downloading malicious applications,” she said.
According to Umar, the links to the counterfeit Play Store are being spread through social engineering tactics such as phishing emails, malicious ads, and SMS messages. Once installed, the fake application gives attackers unauthorized access to users’ devices.
“This access can lead to data theft, credential harvesting, financial fraud, remote control of the device, and further malware deployment,” she warned.
Umar urged the public to remain vigilant and ensure they only download applications from the official Google Play Store or other reputable platforms.
She further advised users to verify app developers, read reviews before installation, keep their devices and apps updated to close security gaps, and install reputable mobile security software to detect and block potential threats.
