TGCSB warns against scams exploiting ‘1980s retro photo’ trend
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has warned citizens against cyber fraudsters exploiting the viral “1980s retro photo editing” trend to steal sensitive information.
The bureau said fraudsters are circulating advertisements and messages offering free or unlimited access to retro photo-editing applications. Users are then lured into clicking suspicious links and downloading Android Package (APK) files from unverified sources.
Once installed, malicious applications may seek excessive permissions and gain access to SMS messages, one-time passwords (OTPs), contacts, personal information, banking details, notifications and device data, the bureau said.
Stolen data can be used for financial fraud, identity theft
The stolen information may subsequently be used to facilitate financial fraud, unauthorised transactions, identity theft and other cybercrimes, it said.
TGCSB advised people not to click on unknown or suspicious links received through SMS, WhatsApp, social media or other platforms. It also asked users not to download or install APK files from unknown sources.
Citizens should download applications only from official and trusted app stores and check the permissions sought by an application before installing it, the bureau said.
It also advised people never to share OTPs, personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords, banking credentials or other sensitive information with anyone.
“If an application appears suspicious, uninstall it immediately and review the permissions granted to it,” the advisory said. Users were also asked to keep mobile operating systems and applications updated with the latest security patches.
“An attractive photo-editing offer can be a trap. Think before you click, verify before you install, and never trust unknown APK files,” Shikha Goel, director of TGCSB, said in the advisory.
Citizens can report cybercrime through the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in or the Cyber Crime Reporting WhatsApp number 8712672222.
