How to remove Asur malware from your Android device

What kind of malware is Asur?

Asur is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) targeting Android OSes (Operating Systems). Malware within this classification is designed to enable remote access/control over infected devices. As of the time of writing, Asur is under active development and currently boasts SMS management abilities and geolocation tracking.

Asur malware overview

Asur is a RAT – a type of trojan that allows operators to assume remote control over compromised devices. These malicious programs can be versatile and may be used in different ways.

Asur utilizes persistence-ensuring mechanisms, such as auto-starting upon each system reboot. This RAT shares similarities with spyware, as it can track victims' location. It has SMS management capabilities, including real-time access to incoming text messages. Another ability of this trojan is accessing the device's image gallery.

It must be mentioned that, as of the time of research, Asur is still being developed. Its developers are advertising an upcoming second version. This is not uncommon in malware development – for developers to continuously improve upon their tools and methodologies. Hence, later iterations of Asur are likely to be more streamlined or have additional/different functionalities and features.

To summarize, the presence of malicious software like the Asur RAT on devices can lead to serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Android-targeting remote access trojan examples

We have written about thousands of malicious programs; G700, BingoMod, Rafel, Joker, VajraSpy, and Rusty Droid are merely some of our newest articles on Android-specific remote access trojans.

Software within this classification can be incredibly multifunctional. However, regardless of how malware operates – its presence on a system endangers device and user safety. Therefore, all threats must be removed immediately upon detection.

How did Asur infiltrate my device?

Phishing and social engineering are standard in malware distribution. Malicious software is usually disguised as or bundled with (packed alongside) regular content.

The most prevalent proliferation methods include: untrustworthy download channels (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, third-party app stores, etc.), drive-by (stealthy/deceptive) downloads, malicious attachments/links in spam (e.g., emails, DMs/PMs, SMSes, social media posts, etc.), malvertising, online scams, pirated programs/media, illegal software activation tools ("cracks"), and fake updates.

Furthermore, some malicious programs can self-spread through local networks and removable storage devices (e.g., USB flash drives, external hard drives, etc.).

How to avoid installation of malware?

Caution is essential to device integrity and user safety. Therefore, always research software before downloading/purchasing by reading terms and expert/user reviews, checking out required permissions, and verifying developer legitimacy. Download only from official and trustworthy sources. Activate and update programs using legitimate functions/tools, as those acquired from third-parties may contain malware.

Additionally, be vigilant while browsing since the Internet is rife with deceptive and malicious content. Approach incoming emails and other messages with care; do not open attachments or links present in dubious/irrelevant communications.

It is paramount to have a reputable antivirus installed and kept up-to-date. This software must be used to perform regular system scans and to remove threats and issues.

Quick menu:

• Introduction
• How to delete browsing history from the Chrome web browser?
• How to disable browser notifications in the Chrome web browser?
• How to reset the Chrome web browser?
• How to delete browsing history from the Firefox web browser?
• How to disable browser notifications in the Firefox web browser?
• How to reset the Firefox web browser?
• How to uninstall potentially unwanted and/or malicious applications?
• How to boot the Android device in "Safe Mode"?
• How to check the battery usage of various applications?
• How to check the data usage of various applications?
• How to install the latest software updates?
• How to reset the system to its default state?
• How to disable applications that have administrator privileges?

Delete browsing history from the Chrome web browser:

Tap the "Menu" button (three dots on the right-upper corner of the screen) and select "History" in the opened dropdown menu.

Tap "Clear browsing data", select "ADVANCED" tab, choose the time range and data types you want to delete and tap "Clear data".

[Back to Table of Contents]

Disable browser notifications in the Chrome web browser:

Tap the "Menu" button (three dots on the right-upper corner of the screen) and select "Settings" in the opened dropdown menu.

Scroll down until you see "Site settings" option and tap it. Scroll down until you see "Notifications" option and tap it.

Find the websites that deliver browser notifications, tap on them and click "Clear & reset". This will remove permissions granted for these websites to deliver notifications. However, once you visit the same site again, it may ask for a permission again. You can choose whether to give these permissions or not (if you choose to decline the website will go to "Blocked" section and will no longer ask you for the permission).

[Back to Table of Contents]

Reset the Chrome web browser:

Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Apps" and tap it.

Scroll down until you find "Chrome" application, select it and tap "Storage" option.

Tap "MANAGE STORAGE", then "CLEAR ALL DATA" and confirm the action by taping "OK". Note that resetting the browser will eliminate all data stored within. This means that all saved logins/passwords, browsing history, non-default settings and other data will be deleted. You will also have to re-login into all websites as well.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Delete browsing history from the Firefox web browser:

Tap the "Menu" button (three dots on the right-upper corner of the screen) and select "History" in the opened dropdown menu.

Scroll down until you see "Clear private data" and tap it. Select data types you want to remove and tap "CLEAR DATA".

[Back to Table of Contents]

Disable browser notifications in the Firefox web browser:

Visit the website that is delivering browser notifications, tap the icon displayed on the left of URL bar (the icon will not necessarily be a "Lock") and select "Edit Site Settings".

In the opened pop-up opt-in the "Notifications" option and tap "CLEAR".

[Back to Table of Contents]

Reset the Firefox web browser:

Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Apps" and tap it.

Scroll down until you find "Firefox" application, select it and tap "Storage" option.

Tap "CLEAR DATA" and confirm the action by taping "DELETE". Note that resetting the browser will eliminate all data stored within. This means that all saved logins/passwords, browsing history, non-default settings and other data will be deleted. You will also have to re-login into all websites as well.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Uninstall potentially unwanted and/or malicious applications:

Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Apps" and tap it.

Scroll down until you see a potentially unwanted and/or malicious application, select it and tap "Uninstall". If, for some reason, you are unable to remove the selected app (e.g., you are prompted with an error message), you should try using the "Safe Mode".

[Back to Table of Contents]

Boot the Android device in "Safe Mode":

The "Safe Mode" in Android operating system temporarily disables all third-party applications from running. Using this mode is a good way to diagnose and solve various issues (e.g., remove malicious applications that prevent users you from doing so when the device is running "normally").

Push the "Power" button and hold it until you see the "Power off" screen. Tap the "Power off" icon and hold it. After a few seconds the "Safe Mode" option will appear and you'll be able run it by restarting the device.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Check the battery usage of various applications:

Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Device maintenance" and tap it.

Tap "Battery" and check the usage of each application. Legitimate/genuine applications are designed to use as low energy as possible in order to provide the best user experience and to save power. Therefore, high battery usage may indicate that the application is malicious.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Check the data usage of various applications:

Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Connections" and tap it.

Scroll down until you see "Data usage" and select this option. As with battery, legitimate/genuine applications are designed to minimize data usage as much as possible. This means that huge data usage may indicate presence of malicious application. Note that some malicious applications might be designed to operate when the device is connected to wireless network only. For this reason, you should check both Mobile and Wi-Fi data usage.

If you find an application that uses a lot of data even though you never use it, then we strongly advise you to uninstall it as soon as possible.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Install the latest software updates:

Keeping the software up-to-date is a good practice when it comes to device safety. The device manufacturers are continually releasing various security patches and Android updates in order to fix errors and bugs that can be abused by cyber criminals. An outdated system is way more vulnerable, which is why you should always be sure that your device's software is up-to-date.

Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Software update" and tap it.

Tap "Download updates manually" and check if there are any updates available. If so, install them immediately. We also recommend to enable the "Download updates automatically" option - it will enable the system to notify you once an update is released and/or install it automatically.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Reset the system to its default state:

Performing a "Factory Reset" is a good way to remove all unwanted applications, restore system's settings to default and clean the device in general. However, you must keep in mind that all data within the device will be deleted, including photos, video/audio files, phone numbers (stored within the device, not the SIM card), SMS messages, and so forth. In other words, the device will be restored to its primal state.

You can also restore the basic system settings and/or simply network settings as well.

Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "About phone" and tap it.

Scroll down until you see "Reset" and tap it. Now choose the action you want to perform:
"Reset settings" - restore all system settings to default;
"Reset network settings" - restore all network-related settings to default;
"Factory data reset" - reset the entire system and completely delete all stored data;

[Back to Table of Contents]

Disable applications that have administrator privileges:

If a malicious application gets administrator-level privileges it can seriously damage the system. To keep the device as safe as possible you should always check what apps have such privileges and disable the ones that shouldn't.

Go to "Settings", scroll down until you see "Lock screen and security" and tap it.

Scroll down until you see "Other security settings", tap it and then tap "Device admin apps".

Identify applications that should not have administrator privileges, tap them and then tap "DEACTIVATE".

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

My Android device is infected with Asur malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

No, malware removal rarely necessitates such drastic measures.

What are the biggest issues that Asur malware can cause?

The dangers associated with an infection depend on the malicious program's abilities and the cyber criminals' modus operandi. Asur is a RAT – hence, it can enable remote access/control over devices. This program is capable of accessing the gallery and SMSes, location tracking, and so on. In general, high-risk infections can lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

What is the purpose of Asur malware?

Malware is predominantly used to generate revenue. However, these infections can also be motivated by cyber criminals' amusement or personal grudges, process disruption (e.g., sites, services, companies, etc.), hacktivism, and political/geopolitical reasons.

How did Asur malware infiltrate my Android device?

Malware is mainly distributed via drive-by downloads, spam emails/messages, malvertising, online scams, dubious downloaded channels (e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks, third-party app stores, etc.), pirated content, illegal software activation ("cracking") tools, and fake updates. Some malicious programs can even self-proliferate through local networks and removable storage devices.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and removing most of the known malware infections. Keep in mind that performing a full system scan is crucial since sophisticated malicious programs tend to hide deep within systems.