Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police on Monday issued a warning to the public about a potential malware threat circulating through New Year greeting messages.
Citizens may receive “Happy New Year” messages containing a link or an APK file. Police have advised that such messages, even if sent by family or friends, should not be clicked or downloaded.
According to the police, these files are part of a scam that can install malware on devices. Once installed, the malware could give scammers access to personal information, including contacts, photo galleries, and banking details.
“People are advised to remain vigilant and avoid downloading unknown APK files. Do not share suspicious links with others,” the Odisha Police said while sharing an awareness video to educate the public about the threat.
Odisha Police emphasised that these types of scams are increasingly common during festive seasons, when users are more likely to receive greetings and messages from multiple contacts. By staying cautious and avoiding unknown files, citizens can protect themselves from malware attacks and data theft.
