How to remove GodFather malware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of malware is GodFather?
GodFather is the name of an Android malware targeting online banking pages and cryptocurrency exchanges in 16 countries. It opens fake login windows over legitimate applications. Threat actors use GodFather to steal account credentials. Additionally, GodFather can steal SMSs, device information, and other data.
GodFather overview
Once installed, GodFather imitates the Google Protect tool. While mimicking the Google Protect, it request access to the Accessibility Service. Granting GodFather access to the Accessibility Service allows the malware to access SMSs, contacts, and notifications, and record screen, make calls, and write to external storage.
Moreover, GodFather abuses the Accessibility Service to prevent victims from removing the malware from their devices, obtain Google Authenticator one-time passwords, steal data from PIN and password fields, and process various commands. It can show fake notifications to trick victims into opening phishing websites used to steal login information.
Also, GodFather shows fake login pages for legitimate baking and crypto exchange applications. Those phishing pages are used to steal credentials (login information like usernames, customer IDs, passwords, etc.). GodFather targets more than 200 banking apps and over 100 cryptocurrency exchange platforms, and 94 crypto wallet apps.
GodFather check the list of apps installed on the victim's device to choose matching fake login forms. If the victim has banking or crypto exchange apps that are not on the GodFather's list, the malware records screen to capture entered login credentials.
It is worth mentioning that GodFather does not operate on Android devices that have their language set to Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Moldovan, Russian, Tajik, or Uzbek.
| Name | GodFather trojan |
| Threat Type | Android malware, malicious application, unwanted application. |
| Detection Names | Avast-Mobile (Android:Evo-gen [Trj]), BitDefenderFalx (Android.Riskware.Agent.gHKLV), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Android/Spy.Agent.CMB), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.AndroidOS.Vuad.b), 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 | Deceptive (trojanized) applications on Google Play Store mimicking legitimate applications. |
| 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. |
| Malware Removal (Android) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your mobile device with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Command execution and other features
GodFather can run commands to send SMS from the infected device, start apps, clear app cache, enable and disable call forwarding, open websites, delete itself from the infected device, execute a USSD request.
Also, GodFather includes modules allowing it to log keystrokes (capture data entered with a cellphone keypad), launch a VNC server, lock the screen, exfiltrate and block notifications, enable silent mode, dim the screen, and establish a WebSocket connection.
How did GodFather infiltrate my device?
Cybercriminals have been observed distributing GodFather via trojanized apps hosted on the Google Play Store. One of the apps used to trick users into infecting their devices with GodFather is masquerading as MYT Müzik. The MYT Müzik app mimics a legitimate application called MYT Music. MYT Müzik (the trojanized app) uses the same icon as the legitimate app.
Users infect devices with GodFather after installing a fake application mimicking a legitimate app (there could be many apps used to trick users into installing GodFather on their devices).
How to avoid installation of malware?
Read app reviews before downloading any software. Avoid downloading apps with no or few reviews. Download software only from official pages and stores. Ensure that Google Play Protect is always enabled. Be cautious about opening links or files received via email or SMS. Especially when messages and emails are irrelevant and sent from unknown numbers or addresses.
Screenshot of fake login pages generated by GodFather malware (source: Group-IB):
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)
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
Malware can be used to encrypt files, steal sensitive information, inject additional malware, and perform other malicious activities. Typically, users lose their files and money, have their identities stolen, and encounter other issues.
What is the purpose of GodFather malware?
GodFather can log keystrokes (record keyboard input), perform overlay attacks (display fake pages on top of legitimate apps to steal login credentials), obtain Google Authenticator one-time passwords, steal data from PIN and password fields, access SMSs, contacts, and notifications, and more. More information about its capabilities is provided in our article above.
How did GodFather malware infiltrate my device?
This malware is distributed via fake applications (e.g., MYT Müzik) hosted on Google Play Store. Devices get infected after installing a trojanized application.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Combo Cleaner has an antivirus scanner that detects and removes malware. This app can detect almost all known malware. Usually, high-end malware hides deep in the system. Thus, it is required to run a full scan to eliminate malware of this kind.
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