In Uzbekistan, scammers are spreading a virus disguised as a keyboard with new letters of the alphabet

In Uzbekistan, scammers are spreading a virus disguised as a keyboard featuring the alphabet's new letters

Against the backdrop of updates to the Uzbek alphabet, scammers are sending installation files for a keyboard featuring the new letters via Telegram. Instead of the promised application, they send malware capable of stealing passwords, reading chats, and accessing users' financial data.

The perpetrators send files in private messages and suggest installing them on smartphones. Users are advised not to download unknown applications or follow suspicious links.

On October 21, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law amending the Uzbek alphabet based on the Latin script. Saida Mirziyoyeva announced the signing of the document. The letters Ö ö and Ğ ğ are being introduced to replace the designations O‘ and G‘, while the combinations Sh and Ch are being replaced with Ş ş and Ç ç. The transition to the updated script will be gradual.

Earlier, clients of 12 banks in Uzbekistan became targets of the RedWing Stealer malware for Android, which is being distributed under the guise of VPN services, game modifications, and other applications.