How to eliminate the S.O.V.A. banking trojan from your Android device
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is S.O.V.A.?
S.O.V.A. is the name of a banking trojan targeting Android devices. As its classification implies, this malware seeks to obtain baking and finance-related data. However, this trojan has a wide variety of functionalities and can be used to cause varied problems.
S.O.V.A. malware overview
S.O.V.A. is proliferated under the guise of a broad range of legitimate and innocuous-looking applications. This trojan does not request permissions prior to installation, but afterwards it immediately asks the user to enable the Android Accessibility Services. These services are intended to offer extra help in using the device to those who require it.
Hence, malware that abuses the Android Accessibility Services can gain the ability to read the device's screen, simulate the touchscreen and keyboard, etc. While some iterations of S.O.V.A. stealthily obtain over 20 permissions, at the time of writing, the malicious program could only employ about half of them.
S.O.V.A. is operational on Android operating system versions 7 through 11. The trojan begins its operations by extracting relevant device data. In addition to this information, the programs can acquire Internet cookies.
It targets the log-in credentials (i.e., usernames, emails, IDs, passwords, passphrases, etc.) of various online banks, cryptocurrency wallets, as well as other profitable content. The trojan has keylogging (keystroke recording) abilities with which it can acquire any typed information, including the log-in credentials of various accounts.
It also seeks to steal credit card numbers. And S.O.V.A. can display fake errors about incorrectly entered data - thus forcing the victim to reenter it and expose it to the cyber criminals. This malware can show notifications and manage SMSes (e.g., intercept, hide, send, etc.).
At the time of research, S.O.V.A.'s promotional material stated that it is still in development. It is common for malware creators to improve upon and update their creations.
The developers of this banking trojan claim that they plan to add the following abilities to S.O.V.A.: launching DDoS attacks, operating as screen-locking ransomware, intercepting 2FAs (Two-Factor Authentications), and clipper features. Hence, it is likely that new variants of S.O.V.A. will have some, if not all, of these functionalities.
To summarize, the presence of malicious software like S.O.V.A. on devices can result in severe privacy issues, significant financial losses, and even identity theft.
If you suspect that your system is infected with S.O.V.A., we strongly advise you to use an anti-virus to eliminate it without delay.
| Name | S.O.V.A. malware |
| Threat Type | Android malware, malicious application, unwanted application. |
| Detection Names | Avast-Mobile (Android:Evo-gen [Trj]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Generik.GLAMSH), DrWeb (Android.BankBot.842.origin), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Sova.a), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | The device is running slow, system settings are modified without user's permission, questionable applications appear, data and battery usage is increased significantly, browsers redirect to questionable 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, huge data losses, monetary losses, stolen identity (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. |
Similar malware examples
Zanubis, GriftHorse, Revive, and Coper are just a few examples of Android-targeting banking trojans that we have inspected.
Malicious programs can aim to obtain a wide variety of different data; they can also have varied abilities in countless combinations. However, regardless of how malware operates - its presence on a system endangers device and user safety. Therefore, it is crucial to remove threats immediately upon detection.
How did S.O.V.A. infiltrate my device?
Malware is distributed using phishing and social engineering techniques. This software is usually presented as or bundled with ordinary content. One known disguise of S.O.V.A. is a fake NHS COVID-19 app; however, this trojan likely has many more. Furthermore, since S.O.V.A.'s developers offer it for sale on the dark web - how it is proliferated depends on the cyber criminals using it at the time.
It is noteworthy that while malware is commonly spread through untrustworthy download channels (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.), Android-specific malicious software may also be promoted on the Google Play Store - a legitimate platform. Although review teams and other security measures employed by genuine download sources complicate malware proliferation, it is not rare for cyber criminals to try and abuse them.
Other popular distribution methods include: malicious attachments and links in spam mail (e.g., emails, SMSes, DMs/PMs, etc.), online scams, illegal program activation tools ("cracks") and pirated ("cracked") software, fake updates, and malvertising.
How to avoid installation of malware?
We highly recommend researching software before download/installation and/or purchases, e.g., by reading terms and expert/user reviews, checking the requested permissions, verifying developer legitimacy, etc. Furthermore, all downloads must be performed from official and trustworthy channels.
Another recommendation is to activate and update programs with legitimate functions/tools, as illegal activation ("cracking") tools and third-party updaters may contain malware.
We advise caution with incoming emails and other messages. The attachments and links present in suspect/irrelevant mail must not be opened as that can lead to a system infection. It is just as important to be vigilant when browsing since fraudulent and malicious content usually appears ordinary and harmless.
It is paramount to have a reputable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date. This software must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats and issues.
Appearances of the fake NHS COVID-19 app used to proliferate the S.O.V.A. banking trojan:
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 Android device is infected with S.O.V.A. malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
No, most malicious programs can be removed without resorting to such drastic measures.
What are the biggest issues that S.O.V.A. malware can cause?
Depending on the program's abilities and the cyber criminals' aims, malware infections typically lead to decreased system performance, data loss, severe privacy issues, significant financial losses, and even identity theft.
What is the purpose of S.O.V.A. malware?
Most malicious programs are used to generate revenue, and this likely applies to S.O.V.A. as it is a banking trojan (malware targeting finance-related data). However, cyber criminals may also use malicious software to amuse themselves, carry out personal vendettas, disrupt processes (e.g., websites, services, etc.), and even launch politically/geopolitically motivated attacks.
How did S.O.V.A. malware infiltrate my Android device?
Malware is mainly spread through drive-by downloads, spam emails and messages, online scams, malvertising, dubious download channels (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.), illegal program activation tools ("cracks"), and fake updates.
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