How to remove Rocinante from infected Android devices
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of malware is Rocinante?
Rocinante is a piece of malware classified as a Trojan. This malware targets Android devices. Rocinante has been observed targeting most of the banking institutions in Brazil. Cybercriminals behind the malware use phishing websites to deliver it. Victims of Rocinante can suffer monetary losses and other consequences.
Rocinante overview
Rocinante is disguised as a security tool or a banking application. Once launched and the Accessibility Services are granted, the malware displays a fake screen with certain choices. Selecting any of those choices activates a phishing page (this page has different designs that depend on the bank the malware mimics) requesting personally identifiable information (PII).
These phishing pages (fake login forms) are designed to steal usernames, telephone numbers, passwords (or other login credentials required to access a banking app). Moreover, Rocinante can perform keylogging. It monitors and logs any actions the victim performs (and information enters) using the infected device.
Furthermore, Rocinante allows the attackers to perform remote actions on the infected device. The malware can use Accessibility Service privileges to simulate touches and gestures and modify text in certain fields, enabling it to navigate the device's UI and initiate fraudulent transactions.
Overall, the malware poses a serious risk of financial loss, identity theft, and unauthorized access to personal and financial information.
| Name | Rocinante banking Trojan |
| Threat Type | Android malware, malicious application, unwanted application. |
| Detection Names | Avast (Android:PackedMod-A [Drp]), Combo Cleaner (Android.Riskware.Packer.U), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Android/TrojanDropper.Agent.JEH), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.AndroidOS.Boogr.gsh), 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 | Phishing websites, fake applications, infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering. |
| Damage | Stolen personal information (private messages, logins/passwords, etc.), decreased device performance, battery is drained quickly, decreased Internet speed, 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. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rocinante is a serious threat to both finances and personal privacy. Its abilities show why it is important to be careful with security practices and to detect issues quickly to reduce harm. As cyber threats are evolving, it is highly recommended to have strong security measures and stay updated on new risks to protect devices.
More examples of malware targeting Android users are Copybara, NGate, and LianSpy.
How did Rocinante infiltrate my device?
Rocinante is distributed using deceptive websites. It is disguised as a legitimate security tool or banking application to trick users into downloading and installing it. Cybercriminals can also use malicious advertisements, fake software updates, fraudulent pop-ups, unofficial/third-party app stores, and similar channels to deliver malware.
Additionally, malware can spread through phishing emails or messages that trick users into clicking on malicious links or downloading infected attachments.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Always examine unexpected or unfamiliar emails before opening links or files included in these emails. Regularly update your operating system, browsers, and other applications. Install trusted antivirus or anti-malware tools and keep them up to date. Download applications and files from official websites and app stores. Avoid clicking pop-ups, ads, links, or buttons on suspicious websites.
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 Rocinante malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
Formatting your storage device can remove the malware, but it is a drastic step and should be taken only when nothing else works. Before resorting to formatting, it is recommended to use reputable antivirus or anti-malware software to scan and attempt to remove the malware.
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
The impact of malware varies based on its type and capabilities. The most common consequences of malware infiltration are identity theft, financial losses, further infections, data loss, and decreased device performance.
What is the purpose of Rocinante?
Rocinante tricks users into granting Accessibility Services, then uses fake screens and phishing pages to steal personal information like login credentials. It also logs keystrokes and allows attackers to remotely control the device to conduct fraudulent transactions.
How did Rocinante infiltrate my device?
Rocinante is spread through misleading websites and masquerades as a genuine security tool or banking app to deceive users into downloading and installing it.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can identify and remove almost all types of malware. However, since sophisticated malware may conceal itself deeply within the system, performing a full system scan is crucial for effective detection and removal.
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