The Delhi Police along with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is alerting citizens about fake CoWin vaccine registration apps and websites that are spreading through SMS. As there is a shortage of vaccines in India, miscreants are taking advantage of the desperation among citizens to get the vaccine. Note that the entire vaccination drive is digital and you can register for the same only via Aarogya Setu app or CoWin website. Here are websites and apps that you must avoid.
​Don’t download APK files of an Android app to register for vaccine
If you get any SMS telling you to install an APK file on your Android phone to register then know that it is fake and could be a malware. “The SMS message carries a link that installs the malicious app on Android based devices, which essentially spreads itself via SMS to victims’ contacts. The app also gains unnecessary permissions that attackers could leverage to acquire user data such as contact list,” CERT-In said in its advisory.
​“Covid-19.apk” is a fake Covid vaccine registration app for Android phone
Covid-19.apk is a fake Covid vaccine app that is targeting Android phones. It is malware made to harvest personal data of those users who install the app.
​Fake CoWin website with the URL “https://app.preprod.co-vin.in/login”
The Delhi Police is alerting citizens to be careful about fake CoWin websites like this one with the URL “https://app.preprod.co-vin.in/login”.
​Fake Covid vaccine registration website with URL “https://selfregistration.preprod.co-vin.in”
Another fake vaccine registration website that you should avoid is this one with the URL “https://selfregistration.preprod.co-vin.in”.
​This fake vaccine website is spreading via with the link “https://selfregistration.sit.co-vin.in”
Don’t open the website with the URL “https://selfregistration.sit.co-vin.in” for vaccine registration, it’s fake.
​Fake Covid vaccine app: “Vaci__Regis.apk”
Vaci__Regis.apk is another malware made to fool people into believing that they are registering for a vaccine.
“MyVaccin_v2.apk” is another fake vaccine booking app for Android phones
“Cov-Regis.apk” is a phishing app in the disguise of vaccine registration website
“Vccin-Apply.apk” is another fake app that is spreading through SMS
Fake short URL “http://tiny.cc/COVID-VACCINE” for vaccine registration