How to remove Oblivion RAT from infected devices

What kind of malware is Oblivion RAT?

Oblivion RAT is a remote access Trojan that allows attackers to control Android devices remotely. It is sold as a malware-as-a-service (MaaS), with prices ranging from $300 per month to $2,200 for lifetime access. The service provides tools to create infected apps, fake update pages to trick users into installing them, and a control panel for managing infected devices.

Oblivion RAT overview

The service developers behind Oblivion offer an APK Builder tool to create a malicious Android app. The attackers can choose the app's name, icon, and package name. In stealth mode, the app immediately asks for accessibility access, automatically approves all permissions, hides its icon, and shows no visible screen.

In the second mode, called webview, the malicious application opens a legitimate-looking website as a decoy while secretly gaining the same permissions in the background. Additionally, Oblivion can be designed to appear encrypted when it is not. Inside the app file, a technical setting tells analysis programs the file is encrypted.

As a result, many security tools stop working and display an error, indicating they cannot read the contents. However, the file is not encrypted - it is normally compressed. The fake encryption label is added to confuse automated tools and make security analysis more difficult.

Capabilities

After infecting a device and connecting to its control server, Oblivion gives the attacker extensive remote control over the compromised Android phone. The attacker can view and control the screen in real time. The malware also records keystrokes and user actions, including which apps are being used and when. In addition, it provides full control over SMS messages.

By secretly setting itself as the default SMS handler, the malware can intercept incoming text messages, including one-time passwords and two-factor authentication codes, before the user sees them. The attacker can also send SMS messages from the victim's number.

Another Oblivion's feature checks the installed apps and sorts them into categories such as banking, cryptocurrency, marketplaces, loans, and government services. This allows the attacker to identify valuable financial accounts and target them for fraud or theft.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Oblivion is an Android remote access Trojan that allows attackers to control victims' devices. It can intercept sensitive messages such as one-time passwords and identify valuable financial apps, making it a serious threat to both personal data and financial security.

More examples of RATs targeting Android devices are ZeroDayRAT, Arsink, and Cellik.

How did Oblivion RAT infiltrate my device?

Cybercriminals deliver Oblivion using social engineering. First, they distribute a malicious dropper app through messaging or dating platforms. This dropper contains the main malware in a compressed file and includes fake pages that mimic a Google Play update process.

The first page shows a bogus download bar and a fake security scan with legitimate-looking messages. The second page imitates a legitimate Google Play Store app page. It shows a fake developer name, user rating, and an "Update" button to appear trustworthy.

When the victim taps this button, it initiates the installation of the concealed second-stage malware. The third page guides the victim through enabling installation from unknown sources, presenting it as a standard security step. Once completed, the full Oblivion RAT malware is installed and activated on the device.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Keep your operating system and applications up to date and get software only from official websites or reputable app stores. Run routine scans with dependable security tools to detect and remove possible threats. When receiving unexpected emails or messages, particularly those containing links or attachments, avoid opening their contents.

Additionally, do not interact with suspicious advertisements, pop-ups, or links when visiting questionable websites, and reject notification requests from untrusted websites.

Oblivion RAT administration panel (source: iverify.io):

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".

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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).

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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.

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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".

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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".

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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.

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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".

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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;

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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 device is infected with Oblivion RAT malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

Formatting the device can eliminate Oblivion RAT, but this should be considered only as a final option, because it removes all data. It is advisable to first perform a complete system scan using a security tool like Combo Cleaner.

What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?

Malware can cause a wide range of issues, including slowing down device performance, deleting or corrupting files, stealing personal information, installing additional malicious programs, and giving attackers remote control over the device.

What is the purpose of Oblivion RAT?

The purpose of Oblivion RAT is to give attackers remote control over a victim's Android device. It is designed to steal sensitive information, such as private keys, passwords, SMS messages, and two-factor authentication codes. The malware also identifies financial and similar apps.

How did Oblivion RAT malware infiltrate my device?

Oblivion RAT infects devices through a fake dropper app sent via messaging or dating platforms. The app uses fake Google Play update pages to trick the user into enabling installations from unknown sources. Once the second-stage app is installed, the full malware is activated.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and removing most known malware. Since advanced threats can sometimes hide deep in the system, running a full system scan is recommended to ensure all malware is found and eliminated.