The Federal Government has signaled Nigerians to the existence of an Android-based malicious and deceitful COVID-19 Ransomware Application, which claims to provide updates on the virus and infections near the user.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Ransomware blocks access to users’ personal data and accounts and threatens deletion, unless users pay one hundred US dollars ($100) in Bitcoin within 48 hours.
He said, “the Ransomware App, detected on the website www.coronavirusapp.site, prompts users to download an Android App purportedly for coronavirus map tracking and heat map visuals.”
Lai Mohammed said the development confirms warnings against cybercriminals seeking to exploit the growing spread of the virus for nefarious gains.
He advises Nigerians not to download the Ransomware App and to seek updates on the pandemic only from the appropriate authorities.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian government confirmed two new cases.
Two new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: 1 in Lagos and 1 in Osun
Both cases are returning travellers to Nigeria in the last 7 days
As at 07:00 am 25th March, there are 46 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria. 2 have been discharged with 1 death pic.twitter.com/1NLKTFG7LF
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 25, 2020
It is important to adhere to the guidelines in the image below in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
