Warning over ‘fake Whatsapp’ Android virus which can spy on you with your phone’s microphone

Android users have been warned about a creepy new piece of malware which can take over devices – and listen to users via the microphone.

Trend Micro researchers call the malware GhostCTRL, and is disguised as popular Android apps such as WhatsApp and Pokemon Go.

Once users are fooled into installing, the app secretly installs malicious software which offers hackers a ‘back door’ into a smartphone.

Attackers can steal photos, call records, browser history – and record activities via the phone’s camera and microphone.

In a blog post, the security experts say, ‘We’ve named this Android backdoor GhostCtrl as it can stealthily control many of the infected device’s functionalities.

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‘The data GhostCtrl steals is extensive, compared to other Android info-stealers.

‘Different kinds of sensitive, and to cybercriminals, valuable, information will be collected and uploaded.

‘There are three versions of GhostCtrl. Based on the techniques each employed, we can only expect it to further evolve.