How to avoid downloading a fake Trust Wallet application
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Trust Wallet App malware?
While inspecting untrustworthy cryptocurrency-related websites, we discovered a fake Trust Wallet page hosting Android malware. Cybercriminals use this site to trick unsuspecting visitors into downloading a backdoored version of the Trust Wallet application.
While inspecting this malware, we noticed that only a few security vendors detected it as malicious (at the time of research a list of security vendors that detect it as malicious was short).
More about the fake Trust Wallet application
Trust Wallet is a legitimate application allowing users to buy, store, collect NFTs, trade, and earn cryptocurrency. Cybercriminals have created multiple fake websites to distribute a malicious (fake) version of the Trust Wallet app to steal credentials and access information.
Once the malicious (backdoored) Trust Wallet application is installed, cybercriminals can access and manage the victims' wallets. The attackers can drain crypto wallets (transfer funds to wallets owned by them). Crypto transactions are irreversible. Thus, victims cannot retrieve stolen funds.
| Name | Fake Trust Wallet application |
| Threat Type | Android malware, malicious application, unwanted application. |
| Detection Names | ESET-NOD32 (Android/FakeWallet.DL), Ikarus (Trojan-Spy.AndroidOS.Agent), Symantec Mobile Insight (AdLibrary:Generisk), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Trust wallet account cannot be accessed and (or) there are no cryptocurrency in the wallet. |
| Distribution methods | Fake Trust Wallet websites |
| Fake Trust Wallet Websites | trusrt-wallet[.]io, trusrtwallet[.]app, trusrtwallet[.]co, trusrtwallet[.]in, trusrtwallet[.]io, trusrtwallet[.]vip, trusrtwallets[.]co, trusrtwallets[.]com, trusrtwallets[.]io, trusrtwallets[.]net, trusrtwallets[.]org, trusstwallet[.]site, trustwallet[.]life, trustwallets[.]io, turstwallet[.]live |
| Damage | Drained cryptocurrency wallet |
| Malware Removal (Android) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your mobile device with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Crypto-related malware in general
Using fake websites and applications as a tool to steal cryptocurrency is quite popular among cybercriminals. Typically, fake websites and apps are virtually identical to the real ones. Fake websites can be identified by comparing their URLs with URLs of official pages.
How did Trust Wallet App malware infiltrate my device?
The fake Trust Wallet app is distributed via deceptive websites masquerading as the official Trust Wallet page (trustwallet[.]com). Devices become infected after downloading and installing the malicious application. A list of fake websites distributing the malicious/backdoored Trust Wallet app is provided in our threat summary below.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Download applications only from legitimate websites and stores. Always check the URLs of websites before downloading apps from them. Avoid downloading apps with no or few reviews. Do not click on advertisements appearing on suspicious websites.
Also, do not click links in suspicious SMSes and emails. The same applies to opening attachments received from unknown email addresses.
Screenshot of a fake website (trusstwallet[.]site) promoting Trust Wallet App malware:
Mobile version of this website:
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 dropdown 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 dropdown 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 a permission again. You can choose whether to give these permissions or not (if you choose to decline the website will go to "Blocked" section and will no longer ask you for the 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 as well.
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 dropdown 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 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 as well.
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'll 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 low 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 huge data usage may indicate presence of malicious application. Note that some malicious applications might be designed to operate when the device is connected to 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, then 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 way more vulnerable, which is why you should always be sure that your device's 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 to enable the "Download updates automatically" option - it will enable the system to notify you once an update is released and/or 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's settings to default and clean the device in general. However, you must keep in mind 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 forth. In other words, the device will be restored to its primal state.
You can also restore the basic system settings and/or simply network settings as well.
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 what apps have such privileges and disable the ones that shouldn't.
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".
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
My device is infected with a fake Trust App application, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
No, it is not necessary to format the storage device. This malicious application can be removed without formatting.
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
Malware can cause various problems. The most common ones are monetary loss, identity theft, additional infections, slow computer (or mobile device) performance, and data loss.
What is the purpose of the fake Trust Wallet app?
This app is used to access Trust Wallet accounts and drain cryptocurrency wallets (steal cryptocurrency).
How have I infected my device with the fake Trust Wallet app?
Malicious Trust Wallet application is distributed via fake Trust Wallet websites (the list of websites is provided in our threat summary above). Those websites are designed to look like the official Trust Wallet page, but the URL address of the official page is different.
Outstanding!
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