When You're On 'THIN ICE'

How often are we on 'THIN ICE'?  Likely, rarely and NOT often, right?  BUT When You're On 'THIN ICE', how should we handle things from that point onwards?  WHEN we're in something like SURVIVAL MODE?  In simple techie jargon, SURVIVAL MODE is essentially booting in 'SAFE MODE'.  Things like prolonged grief, trauma, OR even burnout can cause our brains to opt in booting in this way, kind of our brain entering SURVIVAL MODE.  Some sort of trauma may be at the root of one's grief, OR burnout may just be our experience as we return from work [after a long time].  Trauma can be defined and classified in many ways.  And this can feel like a heavy term to many.  Essentially, any short-term OR long-term, very stressful experience, can indeed be traumatizing.  YES, many of us did experience trauma during that pandemic, including strained relationships due to the pandemic and ongoing stress associated with WHAT we are seeing on the news OR even in our personal lives📗📙📘

Psychologists have coined this jargon 'FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE and FAWN' and according to the experts, that results in our body saying 'ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS ONLY'.  That explains WHY trauma responses often feel like a lack of focus, that 'WAIT, WHAT HAPPENED?'  The feeling of reading something five times over and still DON'T know WHAT it's all about.  Feel like you are operating on a short fuse OR simply exhausted and procrastinating tasks you WON'T usually procrastinate❌❌❌

Just to take a sneak preview of FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE and FAWN:

• FIGHT - WHEN facing a perceived danger head-on
• FLIGHT - WHEN running away from danger
• FREEZE - WHEN unable to to act against a threat
• FAWN - WHEN immediately acting to try to please to avoid any conflict.  

Experts say that each of these responses is our body's best attempt at SURVIVAL💥💥💥

Experts shared a sampling of the tell-tale signs that we are about OR are already in SURVIVAL MODE:

• WHEN forgetting to take care of one's basic needs
• WHEN feeling more tired than usual OR expected
• WHEN emotion regulation goes out of the window
• WHEN multitasking becomes challenging
• WHEN memory lapses or issues happen

Exports forewarn us that any of these signs and symptoms are the early indicators that you may be headed for OR are already in that SURVIVAL MODE.  And being aware and conscious of these early indicators and manifestations, naming them and responding accordingly, can help manage and prevent living in that precarious SURVIVAL MODE.  Picking their brains...😐😐😐

Our takeaway:  Experts keep counselling us to embrace SELF-COMPASSION, SELF-REGULATION and SELF-CARE.  While SELF-COMPASSION is a practice of goodwill and NOT good feelings, it lets ourselves to commit mistakes.  WHEREAS SELF-REGULATION is our own ability to manage our emotions , thoughts and behaviors to reach a positive outcome WHILE in SELF-CARE, we need to notice WHICH dimension is impacted because our own SELF-CARE kicks in from there.  All these WHEN YOU'RE ON THIN ICE, dude✅✅✅

Some Games Are WAY TOO BIG For Us!!!

Some Games Are WAY TOO BIG For Us!!!

NOT to be a 'kill-joy' because everyone is entitled to have his/her own choices and decisions in life BUT truth of the matter here is the stark reality that indeed, Some Games Are WAY TOO BIG For Us!  Literally speaking, as an example, even if you play hoops, that DOESN'T mean you can play in the NBA!  That explains WHY the NBA came up with the G League, because those who fall short of the NBA's toughness can hone and sharpen their skills in the G League.  That goes true in life, dude📗📙📘

YES, for experience sake, it's worth it to go to the Vegas Strip to get into some of the casino games BUT be cautioned if you dream to be a high-roller there [UNLESS you belong to that group].  In the academe, YES everyone dreams to study and graduate from any of the Ivy League schools BUT do you have WHAT it takes to face the highest academic standards in the Ivy League [even assuming you have the $$$$$$ means]?  Oh yes, about video games, are they [generally] good OR bad for us?  True, there's nothing wrong to live and breathe video games BUT can we assess its impact to our culture???

YES, it is important to note that video games no longer denote the 'basic level-up' model OR even those Nintendo Gameboys in the past.  YES, video games are these complicated online multiverses with many objectives that are nested within objectives.  Some games are competitive in nature and require immense skill while others are meant to take you on a journey.  And if you're a GAMER, you would agree that 'GAMER CULTURE' is large and complicated with each game spawning its own merch, inside jokes language, characters, dances cosplay events and the list goes on.  The point we're driving out is that video games are NO longer about the game itself.  These days, being a gamer is a broad identifier of the type of sub-culture you belong to.  And almost has nothing to do with the act of playing video games.  True, gaming has its obvious positives.  There's a great deal of fun.  YES, you can get lost in a world and escape your daily routines.  Those graphics are mesmerizing💥💥💥

Fun aside, another argument in favor of video games is that it speeds up your reaction time.  NOW for the NEGATIVEs.  It is NO surprise that the demographic that tends to play video games are much younger but as these video games do become complicated, we could get lost and forget about the real world.  Time is precious.  Often, the recurring complaint we hear is "I WISH I SPENT LESS TIME' playing video games and more time on doing this OR that😕😕😕

Our takeaway:  Have you observed some gamers WHO have either keep taking meals on a delayed basis and many more I come to know even skip meals day-in day-out, not to mention some end up neglecting even their hygiene and health [imagine NOT taking a bath regularly].  BUT WHAT struck me the most about heavy gamers in their mid 20's is their naivety.  They DIDN'T seem to meet enough people, live enough life, OR go through many experiences.  Some are even gullible and struggle to comprehend HOW the world could be so unfair.  Dude, DON'T let life pass you by.  Get out of your comfort zone.  The rewards are much greater WHEN you accomplish something in real life❗❗❗

Why Curiosity Matters

Why Curiosity Matters

It's a GIVEN that everyone is born as co-equals.  One facet of our commonalities is CURIOSITY.  Regardless of culture and creed, we will all agree that children everyone will never cease asking all the WHYs, HOWs and WHENs, amongst many questions.  Here's the catch though.  As we grow, we shift from CURIOUS learning to knowing and as adults, we can reach that learning plateau.  BUT how many will ask as to Why Curiosity Matters📗📙📘

BUT WHY do we feel good to get to a point of understanding and knowledge BUT along the way, we begin to lose our CURIOSITY.  Suddenly you would hardly here inquisitive adults with the WHYs, HOWs and WHENs.  We then find it easier to live as that 'expert' WHO knows than the student WHO grows.  Surely, sometimes we are forced to learn, BUT often the intentional work to dig in and stretch our perspectives and reach new depths of learning can slow as we tip from CURIOSITY to KNOWING.  And as our world continues to spin faster, CURIOSITY and LEARNING are indeed essentials.  The speed of change happening all around us creates those innovations, requiring us to keep pace, LEARN and ADAPT💥💥💥

To be brutally honest, these days, the person WHO knows and tells BUT lacks the ability to be CURIOUS, to LEARN and GROW will find themselves [eventually] irrelevant and lacking critical skills and the perspectives needed to thrive in this modern BUT really frenetic era.  So, the BIG ASK is:  WHAT shuts down CURIOSITY, the benefits of CURIOSITY and HOW to cultivate that CURIOSITY✅✅✅

YES YES yow, CURIOSITY does SHUT DOWN and according to studies, two of the biggest factors WHEN CURIOSITY SHUTS DOWN, are thinking we know everything already and having that UNCHECKED ego.  The studies showed that CURIOSITY gets SHUT DOWN WHEN we think we know all the answers and need to be the expert😕😕😕

Our takeaway:  If we let things get waylaid, instead of fostering a culture of CURIOSITY, we will end up fostering our COMPETITION [to become so called 'experts'].  And once we know something, we'll declare that our LEARNING is done.  So, are you SHUTTING DOWN CURIOSITY within yourself and those around you?  A few frank questions here.  Do I have a GENUINE desire to learn?  Do I struggle WHEN I DON'T know something?  YES dude, our own ego wants to KNOW, be competent and safe.  We find safety WHEN we know and a have a level of power from knowing.  NOT knowing can make us feel vulnerable.  This is WHAT makes CURIOSITY hard because our ego is NOT CURIOUS, so to become CURIOUS, we must be aware of our ego and HOW it SHUTS DOWN CURIOSITY.  WHY CURIOSITY MATTERS, indeed❗❗❗

TRYING Is INTENTIONAL LIVING

 TRYING Is INTENTIONAL LIVING

INTENTIONAL LIVING may sound lofty, complicated OR simply confusing.  BUT YES, it is a way of life that you can build with some reflection and even those small shifts.  NOT to beat my chest BUT if there is one thing I can take immense pride in about myself and that is ensuring that every time I wake up, I have a crystal clear PURPOSE for that day and that short-term PURPOSE compounds to be my lifelong PURPOSE, with everything else being a manifestation of persistently TRYING INTENTIONAL LIVING📘📙📗

YES, INTENTIONAL LIVING has its life changing impact via its life changing practice.  You may have stumbled across INTENTIONAL LIVING either in a conversation OR in one of the plastered ads.  YES, it seems like INTENTIONAL LIVING s everywhere these days.  BUT WHAT does it really mean to be INTENTIONAL?  WHAT does it look like to do things with intention?  And perhaps, is INTENTIONAL LIVING feasible for us all???

YES dude, anyone of us can lead an INTENTIONAL and PURPOSE-filled life and the key to identify WHAT that personally means for you, and make small BUT still significant shifts and conscious choices to build it.  In the fewest words, INTENTIONAL LIVING means building your life around your core beliefs and values💦💦💦

You might pester me.  In the fewest, practical words, WHAT'S INTENTIONAL LIVING?  To piggy-back an expression by psychologists, INTENTIONAL LIVING means NOT acting on impulse OR merely existing.  Rather, it's about having a FULL CONTROL of your everyday life.  LIKE taking a long walk with your spouse because movement and quality time are your priorities.  LIKE ensuring your activities make it into your schedule to prioritize self-care😊😊😊

Our takeaway:  So, WHAT makes INTENTIONAL LIVING that important?  Studies show numerous mental health benefits LIKE lowering one's stress.  It's WHEN you stop weighing the PROs and CONs of every decision as it causes undue anxiety.  Instead, you tend to be guided by your 'North Star' as it serves as your compass, purposely made out of your core beliefs and values.  Word of caution.  INTENTIONAL LIVING is NOT always comfortable and calming.  At times, it can be challenging and even awkward, especially in the beginning.  BUT remember many worthwhile things in life can be tough sometimes.  BUT the key is to keep going, remind yourself that your LIFE with INTENTION will go a long way WHEN aligned with your principles.  Dude, keep TRYING INTENTIONAL LIVING❗❗❗

The Grass Is Greener Where You Water It!!!

The Grass Is Greener Where You Water It!!!

The Grass Is Greener Where You Water It!!! Yow Yow Yow, I have to take back everything in the past WHEN I said that the GRASS IS GREENER AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.  Nope Nope Nope.  Logic, reason and basic commonsense tells us the other way around [ON ONE CONDITION though].  As long as you do water your own grass.  YES, with life getting tighter, the world giving us challenges, it is only natural to reflect on the relationships in our lives [and NOT JUST romantic relationships] BUT on all our life-nurturing connections

To quote American author David Wolfe, SOMETIMES THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE IT'S FAKE.  Oh Oh, Oh, that CAN'T be farther from the truth.  Even as we are concerned in repairing and even strengthening our connections with others, it is appropriate for us to realize those few things in life that impact the quality of our lives more than the health of our relationships.  As to WHY the GRASS IS GREENER WHERE WE WATER IT, the wisdom of this saying is that we are wise NOT to focus on finding GREENER pastures somewhere else BUT instead, let us nurture and grow the vitality of the relationships we already have in life

That wisdom applies to caring to all areas of our lives, and even our spiritual lives, the work we do in this world, caring for our bodies, our health AS IF they are our actual gardens.  Like a garden, all relationships require regular watering and even attention.  NOW let's pull the brakes for a bit and align as to HOW do we really WATER our very own GRASS.  The lowest hanging fruit has always been to show REGULAR appreciation for and the people we care about.  Ooooops, please note I intentionally typed REGULAR in upper case.  WHY?  Because there are many instances of FLASHES IN THE PAN where you blurt out niceties literally ONCE IN A BLUE MOON!@#$%?

Coming close to the heels of APPRECIATING our relationships is to earnestly STRENGTHEN our connection by being BETTER listeners.  HOW many times were you doing your CAR WASH and as your wife is blurting at the background, you kind of shove her off by just reacting LATER LATER, I'M BUSY.  Or if your spouse/partner is tossing up an idea OR suggestion, even before the sentence gets completed, you tend to SHUT IT OFF, shrugging off your shoulder like IT'S MY WAY OR NO WAY???

Our takeaway:  Learning my own lessons [the HARD WAY] from the past, NEVER NEVER NEVER miss out the FUN part of our relationships.  If you take on your relationship as an obligation, a contractual one in fact [no thanks to the marriage contract], NOT to sound like Nostradamus BUT very likely that relationship will be doomed in the long haul.  Even psychologists have chimed in, claiming that 'PLAYING IS NOT JUST A NICE EXTRA' in a relationship BUT it is essential in keeping relationships energized, sizzling and NOT losing the momentum for that matter.  A closer synonym for PLAY is RECREATION and the psychologists encourages us to think of "RE-CREATION" because every relationship we have created in our lives will benefit from intentional times of RE-CREATION and RECONNECTING.  YES YES yoW, THE GRASS IS GREENER WHERE YOU WATER IT❗❗❗

The POWER OF WORDS

Be Careful With What You Say

A few times in the past, I was counselled this way:  DON'T SAY ANYTHING YOU WILL HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR LATER.  And till to date, I think there's wisdom in that.  And indeed, that's a good reason to Be Careful With What You Say because there is NO 'edit' button on our conversations.  Words are the bells that CAN'T be muted.  You can try and walk things back, try and explain yourself and even try to justify the words you said BUT in the end, there's that POWER OF WORDS💚💛💜

As an afterthought, THAT comment, THAT remark, even THAT tone, it's all there.  Always.  And you DON'T want to be embarrassed later by WHAT you said at the moment.  BUT let's face it, there are other reasons besides avoiding embarrassment to watch WHAT we say.  Likely, there may be deeper reasons.  And probably some more important ones.  So, WHAT's next?  Let's spend a fraction of our time to dissect the words we uttered, we typed, we messaged in social media.  True, you can UNSEND that social media message BUT you CAN'T UNDO its impact💥💥💥

To be a bit poetic about this, our words are like water.  Water, being that stuff of life, it can also be incredibly destructive.  Similarly, our words are incredibly powerful to destroy OR build up, especially those WHO claim to love.  Through the years, I'll admit I did witness on a first-hand basis relationships that were so robust one day only to flounder come next day.  And the mother of all surprises hovers on the fact that there was NOT a tinge of an embedded friction OR even the slightest disconnect, NOT until the bomb blows up💧💧💧

True-ness.  WORDS ARE TOOLS.  WORDS are the very conduit and channels of communications.  Regardless as to how a relationship's health stands at the moment, it will always stand on the very core foundation, which WHEN concretized, it shapes up into WORDS.  I've witnessed interactions that were going back and forth smoothly until one of the parties unconsciously blurted quite a frank and sarcastic WORD.  From that point onwards, that discussion I was witnessing was teetering on the edge, WHEREIN one party was becoming guarded💢💢💢

Our takeaway:  Historically, the POWER of WORDS has been grossly underestimated such that most of us would commit recurring and sometime chronic lapses in the most unconscious manner, turning parties OR protagonists from unflappable ones to vulnerable ones.  WHAT is indeed regrettable here is that WORDS do not require financial outlays.  In English alone, the 550,000 reservoir of WORDS should give us NO excuse that we RAN OUT of WORDS OR that we just missed out on the synonym.  Apologies dude, there is NO UNDO in WORDS.  BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU SAY in a consistent manner💦💦💦

What's Your Playbook?

What's Your Playbook?

Anne Chow was CEO of AT&T Business till she retired two years back.  And as her colleagues were bidding her adieu, she declared she WON'T be into retirement.  Instead, she will be into REWIREMENT, a new career phase that comes after climbing the corporate ladder and embracing a more purpose-driven work.  Today, Chow serves on the board of three public corporations and is a fellow and adjunct professor at the Kellogg School.  What's Your Playbook???

Chow advises those going OR are already into RETIREMENT that while it is deeply fulfilling, it also comes with pitfalls.  As transitioning from a frenetic phase at work to a more controlled phase, it will be a significant change both financially and even in terms of personal identity.  BUT she clarifies that transitions will always be unique and different for each person.  And Chow says, there is NO default playbook that can be replicated and rolled out for execution across.  Having said this, she has shared how she has managed it😊😊😊

And if she has seen one serious miss during REWIREMENT, they were unable to apply their natural business instincts to themselves.  In short, people missed out planning WAY AHEAD while they were still in their current roles at that time.  WHY?  Chow explains that those REWIREMENT opportunities that you will eventually be angling for WON'T just fall on your lap. While competition within the corporate world is damn tough, during that REWIREMENT phase, things will NOT be served to you on a silver platter.  In short, if you miss out planning thoroughly for that next phase, you will be playing in a not so level playing field.  WHO wants to play in that kind of field???

And I couldn't agree less on that point.  Indeed, a lack of planning can also mean that rather than branching out, some people would eventually default to staying within their old industries.  And that could be a particularly difficult situation WHO were used to wield authority, influence and for those at the C-level, those impactful powers reverberating across organizations.  YES, I did witness seeing people WHO swirled up in the ecosystem they had left, becoming a consultant OR even working for a supplier OR vendor.  BUT psychologists opine that that move is NOT 'mentally healthy'  because if you're going to REWIRE, grab that opportunity to RESET yourself, and NOT hang on to the glory days of the past.  You can only cling along the surface within a very limited window and if that happens, it will be something superficial and effectively uneventful❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  In a nutshell, even before one reaches that final turn towards REWIREMENT, we need to start [by then] start exploring WHAT will be our PURPOSE in that next phase.  Missing out that crucial step will be a major miss.  Problem is we've seen many WHO didn't have that crystal-clear clarity of their next PURPOSE in that REWIREMENT phase.  YES dude, each us need to draft our own PLAYBOOK NOT as a post-mortem BUT way prior💥💥💥

Is Boredom Bad?

Is Boredom Bad?

HOW's BOREDOM defined?  It is that persistent itch you CAN'T quite scratch, that nagging lull that feels more like a gray cloud hanging over your head.  BUT, Is Boredom Bad?  OR taboo?  YES it is that effortless and easy to dismiss BOREDOM as just another way to manifest our waste of time.  that state of being to be avoided at all costs.  BUT WHAT if we're told that BOREDOM ISN'T just a necessary evil BUT that it's a potential 'gateway' to something better???

WHY DON'T we dive in, into this discourse.  Let's face it, in our ever hyper-connected world today, being BORED is almost taboo.  We're constantly fed a stream of content, entertainment and stimulation.  TRUE.  HOW can you blurt out you're BORED WHEN there's social media, there's Netflix, those endless news feeds.  In fact, every second, there's always something to distract us.  BUT seriously, this constant barrage can be damn exhausting, leaving us very little room for one important, WHICH is, managing our own thoughts💜💛💚

DON'T we realize it that WHEN we're BORED, our mind is free to wander?  And it is in those moments of wandering that some of our most creative can indeed emerge.  Think about it.  WHEN we're in the shower, OR on those long drives out-of-town with NO particular destination, HOW often do you find yourself coming up with solutions to problems OR even new concocted ideas for a new initiative OR project???

YES YES yow, dude, that's the beauty of BOREDOM as it forces us to tap into our inner creativity and imagination.  BOREDOM also encourages us to try new things.  WHEN you've scrolled through every possible mobile or social app on your phone and watched every show on your list, WHAT's left for you?  YES, you might pick up a book that's been gathering dust on your shelf OR finally you start that DIY project you've been putting off for quite sometime.  YES, BOREDOM can push us out of our comfort zones and into new, sometimes surprising activities [that for sometime were that unthinkable to begin with].  Moreover, BOREDOM can be a signal that something in our life needs change!!!

Our takeaway:  Instead of seeing BOREDOM as our foe and enemy, can we consider it a helpful hint from our subconscious, telling us to SHAKE THINGS UP, to seek out new experiences and challenges.  And let's NOT forget about our mental health benefits.  In this world WHERE we're constantly on the go, taking a moment to be bored can actually be a form of self-care as that allows us to slow down, to disconnect and give our brains that much-needed and much-deserved break.  IS BOREDOM BAD?  Nope!!!

It's A Matter Of 'OPTICS'

It's A Matter Of 'OPTICS'

To quote American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe, ALL THAT WE SEE OR SEEM IS BUT A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM.   And I CAN'T agree less because probably a big chunk of WHAT you have seen in life may be no less than a figment of one's imagination.  To piggy-back into neuroscience, scientists have proven over time that our sensory experience is constructed entirely by our brains, and by the same parts concerned with dreams, hallucinations and even memory failure.  So, the biggest question is, HOW MUCH OF WHAT WE SEE IS REAL?  YES dude,  It's A Matter Of 'OPTICS'📘📙📗

To quote the experts and SMEs, our brain paints a picture of the world around us with incomplete information, and it does so without us noticing.  They claim that our brain uses prior knowledge and assumptions to construct a logical piece and finish that 'JIGSAW PUZZLE' of sight.  And that seemingly remarkable process does help us see without staring at our noses all day, and covers up gaps of our visions like that famous 'BLIND SPOT' WHERE the optic nerve blocks the retina of our eye.  Quite interestingly, if it WEREN'T for the brain fixing images on the go, we would see the entire world upside down.  Ouch💥💥💥

Surprisingly, WHAT lures me into these insights is the fact that apparently, our brain turns images 'RIGHT SIDE UP' while simultaneously performing thousands of other functions like keeping us all alive and making sure we DON'T forget WHERE to retrieve our car keys, whew!  BUT historically, through the centuries, historians have documented the discovery of a few glitches WHERE the almost perfect functioning of our senses suddenly go awry.  Oh Oh Oh📌📌📌

And a quick litmus test to see one of these confirmed glitches is an OPTICAL ILLUSION in WHICH our brains misinterpret a picture based on informational clues in it.  Hearing the technical explanation of neuroscientists, they claim that OPTICAL ILLUSIONS operate on cues that our brains pick up from visuals and form assumptions around it.  The odd and exciting quality of illusions, though, is that even if we are aware that WHAT our brain is perceiving may be false after all, we still tend to see it that way anyway.  For better OR worse, there are indeed certain ways that we see the universe that we simply CAN'T influence OR correct❗❗❗

Our takeaway:  WHILE we do recognize ILLUSIONS WHEN presented to us, truth of the matter, we experience one too many ILLUSIONS in life that we tend to take it for granted  Oh, have we ever wondered WHY artwork of still life looks like an actual still life?  So, could we manipulate the world around us for our own benefit?  YES, artists and designers have perfected that craft.  So, IS ANYTHING YOU SEE REAL IF IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD?  Think about it, let's accept the fact that in life, IT'S ALL A MATTER OF OPTICS😌😌😌

[ALERT For Android Phones] "THIS MALWARE ADDS A 'TRUSTED' CONTACT TO YOUR ANDROID PHONE"

 

Reposting EN TOTO from lifehacker.com datelined 06.04.2025 [from Emily Long]:  "THIS MALWARE ADDS A 'TRUSTED' CONTACT TO YOUR ANDROID PHONE".  As scam detection features for calls and texts get more sophisticated, so too do the threats designed to evade such measures. Right now, Android users are being targeted with malware that can create fake contacts on your device, so calls and texts from threat actors appear under a trustworthy name rather than an unfamiliar number, making you more likely to fall for them.  The Crocodilus malware, first identified by fraud prevention firm Threat Fabric earlier this year, is a device takeover Trojan initially deployed to trick users into giving up crypto wallet seed phrases under the guise of needing to back up their keys

Once downloaded—such as via a malicious ad, smishing campaign, or third-party app—the malware was able to evade Play Protect on Android 13 (and later) and gain access to Accessibility Service, ultimately logging and harvesting typed account credentials. As a result, threat actors could gain control of and empty victims' crypto wallets.  The latest iteration of the program has evolved to deploy a command that adds contacts to a device locally. If an attacker calls, they'll appear in caller ID under a seemingly legitimate name, such as "Bank Support," making targets more likely to answer and trust the contact. As Bleeping Computer reports, the fake contact isn't connected to your Google account, so it'll show up only on the compromised device, not any others you've logged into

WHAT ANDROID USERS need to do?  At first, Crocodilus campaigns were limited to a few countries, but the malware has now spread around the world, including to the U.S. To avoid infecting your Android device, stick to Google Play for downloading trusted apps and software, and keep Play Protect active to catch as many threats as possible

FAKE CONTACTs.  A notable feature in the latest Crocodilus malware version is the ability to add fake contacts on the victim's device. Doing so would cause the device to display the name listed in a caller's contact profile rather than the caller ID when receiving an incoming call. This could allow the threat actors to impersonate trusted banks, companies, or even friends and family members, making the calls appear more trustworthy

Crocodilus can variously manipulate text messages, e.g., set itself as the default SMS manager, send SMS to a specific number or to all contacts (options to send just a single message or large numbers), and acquire SMS contents.  The trojan's text message abilities allow it to be used as Toll Fraud malware; however, it has not been employed in this capacity as of the time of writing. Since this program can send SMSes in bulk, it could be utilized to send spam or even self-proliferate through lures sent in text messages.  Our FIX:  Please run SCAN ASAP on your Android device