Ever since the internet has become all pervading, cyber threats have become something that has that annoys practically anything we do on the web. In fact, cyber threats come in all shapes and sizes, but a few of them are so small that they tend to be quite challenging to identify. One such cyber threat that is small in size but can create vast havoc is the Tiny Banker Trojan. It may look small, but it can be extremely harmful. Let us learn what a Tiny Banker Trojan is and how to identify it.
What Is Tiny Banker Trojan (Tinba)?
Abbreviated as Tinba, Tiny Banker Trojan, true to its name, is a small malware. It gets activated only when you launch financial or banking-related applications and websites. The Trojan was first identified in 2012 and was notorious because of its tiny size.
The virus makes use of what is called packet sniffing to identify when a user visits a banking website. It remains inactive when you are browsing other websites, making it go unidentified. The first way it can attack your financial websites is to read your key presses when you enter the password. The second it will let you log in normally and then will begin posing as the bank server and come up with pop-ups that appear to come from the bank servers. These pop-ups seek additional information from you – which includes social security numbers and credit card numbers.
How Can You Get Infected By Tiny Banker Trojan?
The most common way that your device can get infected with Tiny Banker is by downloading the malicious file. The file can be disguised as some important file or can even be added to a software package that you may install from third-party sources. Due to its small size, it can easily hidden with another file that looks absolutely legitimate. Most of the time, you download it from sources other than the official websites. So, if you tend to download cracked versions of the software from third-party sources, beware of any such issue as downloading the Tiny Banker trojan.
It can be downloaded in the following ways:
Phishing emails
The phishing emails are emails that appear to be coming from authorized sources. They come with malicious links or attachments. When you click on them or download them, you will end up downloading the Tiny Banker Trojan virus on your device.
Compromised or Hacked Websites
There are possibilities that hackers would infect a legitimate website. They would inject malicious code into the website. When you visit such websites, your device gets infected whenever you download something from these sites.
Malvertising
Malicious advertising or malvertising is another way the Tiny Banker Trojan can make its way into your device. This involves the practice of injecting malicious ads into legitimate websites and web pages. When you click on any of these ads, you unknowingly download the Trojan.
Downloaded software
Another means used for injecting Tiny Banker or other malicious software can be to inject them into hidden malware. It is also possible to find the official websites being affected by the malware.
Security exploits
If you have the habit of not updating your apps regularly, you are likely to be affected by the virus or Trojan. Hackers use exploit kits to exploit the security holes in software.
How to Identify Tiny Banker Trojan Software?
There is no tried and tested means to identify the Tiny Banker Trojan. However, you may find a few tell-tale signs that may indicate a possibility of your system being affected by one of them.
- If you find unexpected pop-ups on your banking apps, it can be an indication of the Tiny Banker Trojan virus
- Slower performance of your computer.
- You may notice unusual and unexpected changes in your browser settings, such as default pages and search engines.
- You may also notice any changes in your financial accounts.
How to Remove Tiny Banker Trojan?
Removing the Tiny Banker trojan is a difficult task. You need to be quite careful when doing it. The Trojan is designed to be difficult to detect and remove. If you leave it fragmented, it can re-enable itself.
If you think your device is affected by Tiny Banker trojan, you can follow the steps below:
- Isolate all your infected devices: Once you suspect your device is affected, isolate it from all other devices. Disconnect all the devices connected to your computer. This will prevent the trojan from spreading to other devices.
- Go to safe mode: Restart your device and go to the safe mode. This will stop all third-party apps from functioning. You can then scan the computer and remove the virus right away.
- Scan your devices: Scan your entire device using a reputable anti-virus solution. You can also use the specific tools designed for scanning and detecting malware and adware
- Remove the trojan: Most of the antivirus solutions help you delete the trojans. It should be able to remove the Tiny Banker trojan.
- Change your passwords: Change all your passwords. Make sure that you have changed the passwords for banking and other financial accounts.
How to Prevent the Attacks from Tiny Banker Trojan?
While it is very difficult to detect and remove the Tiny Banker trojan, you can prevent the virus from affecting your device.
- Make use of a reliable anti-virus and anti-malware tool: Antivirus and Antimalware software programs are a must-have on your device in order to protect it from Tiny Banker Trojan. Make sure that these safety software programs are regularly updated.
- Keep your operating system and software updated: From time to time software companies keep updating their software to fix some loopholes, and additional patches to make it stay protected from viruses or malware attacks. Thus, it is of utmost importance that you always update your OS and application software programs as well.
- Avoid untrusted emails: Be cautious in clicking on links in emails and other types of communications. You should take care not to open websites using links. Open them by entering the URL directly.
- Backup your important backup files: Make sure to keep a backup of your important files. You can use cloud storage or local storage for your files.
FAQs
How can banking trojans be prevented?
Most trojans use keyloggers. Using a password manager and getting your passwords from the password manager directly can be one of the excellent options. You can also watch out for phishing emails and address the concerns carefully.
When was the Tinba virus created?
Tinba virus or Tiny Banker trojan was first discovered in 2012. It initially infected around 1,000 Turkish computers. It later went on through several revisions, and that is what made it challenging to trace and detect.
Who created the Tiny Banker Trojan?
The origins of Tiny Banker Trojan are not known. It was first detected in 2012. It is stated to be a modified version of the Zeus virus.
The Closing Thoughts
Tiny Banker Trojan is indeed a serious threat to most of your banking-related services. The tips we have provided here should help you identify the Tiny Banker trojan effectively. Ensure you are alert enough to identify and remove the virus.
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