Android users beware – this simple message can erase everything on your phone

Android users should be on the lookout for this text message that is being circulated by hackers.

The message contains a dangerous link which can take 'total control' of your phone. Security experts Hemdial issued a warning about the message which could allow hackers to gain access to personal details and render your phone useless. The message reportedly reads: 'You have received a multimedia message from +[country code] [sender number] Follow the link http:www.mmsforyou [.] Net /mms.apk to view the message'. A warning issued on the Hemdial website reads that opening this link can 'open a backdoor into Android smartphones, to monitor and control them as they please'. They can also 'send SMS messages to premium channel numbers, seriously increasing the victim's phone bill; read SMS messages, which means they can also read authentication codes sent as part of two-factor authentication mechanisms, used also by online banking apps and ecommerce websites and use their full access to Android phones to basically manipulate the device to do whatever they want'. The security experts said that Android users should take extra care: never open links, avoid connecting to unknown WiFi networks and install antivirus specifically for an Android phone.