How to remove Ginp from an Android device
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Ginp?
Cyber criminals abuse the current situation (spread of COVID-19) in various ways. In this particular case, they attempt to extort banking information from unsuspecting people through a website called Coronavirus Finder. This web page is opened via a banking Trojan called Ginp.
Currently, cyber criminals responsible target mainly Android users in Spain, however, they could also be targeting people in other countries.
Coronavirus Finder is a deceptive web page suggesting that visitors can find out the location of people who are infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19). At the time of research, this page claimed that there were twelve infected people nearby and offered to display their location for 0.75 EUR.
To pay for this service, visitors must supposedly provide credit card information such as card holder name, credit card number, expiry date and CVV. By providing these details, visitors would simply present cyber criminals with their credit card details, which could then be misused to make fraudulent purchases and transactions, or simply sold to third parties.
Therefore, Coronavirus Finder and other similar sites can never be trusted. Note that a previous Ginp version was designed to trick users into providing various privileges through Accessibility Service.
I.e., it asked permission to display push notifications that would open fake web pages or software designed to appear as legitimate apps asking to enter login credentials, credit card details or other personal information. In this way, cyber criminals used Ginp to perform 'overlay attacks'.
These cyber criminals send a special command to Ginp, which opens Coronavirus Finder.
| Name | Ginp malware |
| Threat Type | Android malware, malicious application, unwanted application. |
| Symptoms | The device is running slowly, system settings are modified without users' permission, dubious applications appear, data and battery usage is increased significantly, browsers redirect to rogue websites, intrusive advertisements are delivered. |
| Distribution methods | Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, deceptive applications, scam websites. |
| Damage | Stolen personal information (private messages, logins/passwords, etc.), decreased device performance, battery is drained quickly, decreased internet speed, large data losses, monetary losses, stolen identities (malicious apps might abuse communication apps). |
| Malware Removal (Android) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your mobile device with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Ginp is similar to another banking Trojan called Cerberus, which is employed for the same purpose: to steal confidential information, which could be misused to generate revenue in various ways.
Users with devices infected with this malware are exposed to risk of monetary loss, online privacy issues and other problems. Therefore, take precautions when using mobile or desktop devices.
How did Ginp infiltrate my device?
Commonly, Trojans targeting Android devices exploit Accessibility Service features - this allows cyber criminals to control mobile telephones remotely and perform certain actions. For example, display push notifications that, if clicked, launch certain apps, delete applications, access contact lists, list installed apps, trigger overlay attacks, open various dubious websites, etc.
Accessibility Service is often exploited through fake Flash Player installers and untrusted websites that are usually disguised as official web pages of various apps/companies.
How to avoid installation of malware
Do not download files or programs from untrusted channels such as Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule, and so on), unofficial websites, third party downloaders, etc. Use only official web pages and via direct links. Also avoid third party installers. Do not open attachments or website links within irrelevant emails that are sent from suspicious, unknown addresses.
Installed software must be updated and activated (if necessary) with tools and functions that are provided by official developers. Third party tools are often used to spread malware. Furthermore, it is illegal to activate licensed programs with unofficial ('cracking') tools. Keep devices safe by regularly scanning them for threats with reputable antivirus or anti-spyware programs.
Screenshot of Coronavirus Finder page encouraging users to pay for its service by providing their credit card details:
Quick menu:
- Introduction
- How to delete browsing history from the Chrome web browser?
- How to disable browser notifications in the Chrome web browser?
- How to reset the Chrome web browser?
- How to delete browsing history from the Firefox web browser?
- How to disable browser notifications in the Firefox web browser?
- How to reset the Firefox web browser?
- How to uninstall potentially unwanted and/or malicious applications?
- How to boot the Android device in "Safe Mode"?
- How to check the battery usage of various applications?
- How to check the data usage of various applications?
- How to install the latest software updates?
- How to reset the system to its default state?
- How to disable applications that have administrator privileges?
Delete browsing history from the Chrome web browser:
Tap the "Menu" button (three dots on the right-upper corner of the screen) and select "History" in the opened drop-down menu.
Tap "Clear browsing data", select "ADVANCED" tab, choose the time range and data types you want to delete and tap "Clear data".
Disable browser notifications in the Chrome web browser:
Tap the "Menu" button (three dots on the right-upper corner of the screen) and select "Settings" in the opened drop-down menu.
Scroll down until you see "Site settings" option and tap it. Scroll down until you see "Notifications" option and tap it.
Find the websites that deliver browser notifications, tap on them and click "Clear & reset".
This will remove permissions granted for these websites to deliver notifications, however, once you visit the same site again, it may ask for permission again. You can choose whether to give these permissions or not (if you choose to decline, the website will go to the "Blocked" section and will no longer ask permission).
Reset the Chrome web browser:
Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Apps" and tap it.
Scroll down until you find "Chrome" application, select it and tap "Storage" option.
Tap "MANAGE STORAGE", then "CLEAR ALL DATA" and confirm the action by taping "OK". Note that resetting the browser will eliminate all data stored within. This means that all saved logins/passwords, browsing history, non-default settings and other data will be deleted. You will also have to re-login into all websites.
Delete browsing history from the Firefox web browser:
Tap the "Menu" button (three dots on the right-upper corner of the screen) and select "History" in the opened drop-down menu.
Scroll down until you see "Clear private data" and tap it. Select data types you want to remove and tap "CLEAR DATA".
Disable browser notifications in the Firefox web browser:
Visit the website that is delivering browser notifications, tap the icon displayed on the left of URL bar (the icon will not necessarily be a "Lock") and select "Edit Site Settings".
In the opened pop-up, opt-in to the "Notifications" option and tap "CLEAR".
Reset the Firefox web browser:
Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Apps" and tap it.
Scroll down until you find "Firefox" application, select it and tap "Storage" option.
Tap "CLEAR DATA" and confirm the action by taping "DELETE". Note that resetting the browser will eliminate all data stored within. This means that all saved logins/passwords, browsing history, non-default settings and other data will be deleted. You will also have to re-login into all websites.
Uninstall potentially unwanted and/or malicious applications:
Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Apps" and tap it.
Scroll down until you see a potentially unwanted and/or malicious application, select it and tap "Uninstall". If, for some reason, you are unable to remove the selected app (e.g., you are prompted with an error message), you should try using the "Safe Mode".
Boot the Android device in "Safe Mode":
The "Safe Mode" in Android operating system temporarily disables all third-party applications from running. Using this mode is a good way to diagnose and solve various issues (e.g., remove malicious applications that prevent users you from doing so when the device is running "normally").
Push the "Power" button and hold it until you see the "Power off" screen. Tap the "Power off" icon and hold it. After a few seconds the "Safe Mode" option will appear and you will be able run it by restarting the device.
Check the battery usage of various applications:
Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Device maintenance" and tap it.
Tap "Battery" and check the usage of each application. Legitimate/genuine applications are designed to use as little energy as possible in order to provide the best user experience and to save power. Therefore, high battery usage may indicate that the application is malicious.
Check the data usage of various applications:
Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Connections" and tap it.
Scroll down until you see "Data usage" and select this option. As with battery, legitimate/genuine applications are designed to minimize data usage as much as possible. This means that large data usage might indicate the presence of a malicious application.
Note that some malicious applications might be designed to operate when the device is connected to a wireless network only. For this reason, you should check both Mobile and Wi-Fi data usage.
If you find an application that uses a lot of data even though you never use it, we strongly advise you to uninstall it as soon as possible.
Install the latest software updates:
Keeping the software up to date is a good practice when it comes to device safety. The device manufacturers are continually releasing various security patches and Android updates in order to fix errors and bugs that can be abused by cyber criminals. An outdated system is much more vulnerable, which is why you should always be sure that your device software is up to date.
Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Software update" and tap it.
Tap "Download updates manually" and check if there are any updates available. If so, install them immediately. We also recommend that you enable the "Download updates automatically" option - this will enable the system to notify you once an update is released and/or will install it automatically.
Reset the system to its default state:
Performing a "Factory Reset" is a good way to remove all unwanted applications, restore system settings to default and clean the device in general. Bear in mind, however, that all data within the device will be deleted, including photos, video/audio files, phone numbers (stored within the device, not the SIM card), SMS messages, and so on.
I.e., the device will be restored to its initial/factory state.
You can also restore the basic system settings and/or simply network settings.
Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "About phone" and tap it.
Scroll down until you see "Reset" and tap it. Now choose the action you want to perform:
"Reset settings" - restore all system settings to default;
"Reset network settings" - restore all network-related settings to default;
"Factory data reset" - reset the entire system and completely delete all stored data;
Disable applications that have administrator privileges:
If a malicious application gets administrator-level privileges, it can seriously damage the system. To keep the device as safe as possible, you should always check which apps have such privileges and disable the ones that should not have them.
Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Lock screen and security" and tap it.
Scroll down until you see "Other security settings", tap it and then tap "Device admin apps".
Identify applications that should not have administrator privileges, tap them and then tap "DEACTIVATE".
Outstanding!
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