Zerosecurity
  • Home
  • Security
    • Exploits
    • Mobile Security
  • Malware
  • Data Breaches
  • Crypto
  • Privacy
  • Downloads
    • Malwarebytes
    • Exploits
    • Paper Downloads
    • Software & Service Reviews
No Result
View All Result
SUBSCRIBE
Zerosecurity
  • Home
  • Security
    • Exploits
    • Mobile Security
  • Malware
  • Data Breaches
  • Crypto
  • Privacy
  • Downloads
    • Malwarebytes
    • Exploits
    • Paper Downloads
    • Software & Service Reviews
No Result
View All Result
Zerosecurity
No Result
View All Result
Home Malware

Android under attack – Widespread malware

Paul Anderson by Paul Anderson
August 20, 2013 - Updated on May 17, 2022
in Malware, Mobile Security, Public
0
74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The amount of mobile malware targeting the Android community has boomed over the last four months, according to security firm Kaspersky.

You might also like

Syslogk Linux Rootkit triggers with magic packets

Are Bluetooth signals being used to track smartphones?

BlackCat Ransomware aka “ALPHV” infections on the rise

Kaspersky researchers reported detecting 100,000 mobile malware variants during the second quarter of 2013, in its latest IT Threat Evolution report.

“Virtually all mobile samples that were discovered in the mobile realm were targeting Android in Q2 – just like in the first quarter of the year. One remarkable milestone was reached right at the end of the quarter – on 30 June the 100,000 modifications barrier (consisting of 629 malware families) was broken,” read the report.

The report said 29,695 of the attacks were entirely new, marking a quickening in pace by hackers, who are believed to have created 22,750 new Android malware variants in the previous quarter. The paper said the figure is particularly troubling as each of the malware variants is being carried on a number of Trojan apps.

“We’re not counting individual malicious apps, but malicious code samples. These code samples, however, are mostly used in multiple Trojanised apps, resulting in a significantly higher number of malicious apps waiting to be downloaded,” read the report.

“The common procedure for cyber criminals is to download legitimate apps, adding malicious code and using them as a vehicle for distribution. The repackaged apps are then uploaded again, especially to third-party app stores. Popular apps are targeted to abuse their reputation, since users are actively searching for them and this therefore makes life easier for cybercriminals.”

The researchers highlighted the discovery of a new Obad Trojan as being particularly troubling, confirming it has several new features.

“Those who created [Obad] took advantage of yet another previously unknown flaw in Android OS, which enables a malicious program to gain extended Device Administrator privileges without being listed among the applications having such privileges,” they noted.

“This makes it impossible to remove the malware from the mobile device. Overall, the malicious program exploits three previously unpublished vulnerabilities. We have never encountered anything like it before in mobile malware.”

The paper listed the Trojan as being particularly dangerous as it grants criminals a variety of powers over the infected device. “It can send SMS messages to premium numbers, download and install other malware on the infected device and/or send it via Bluetooth, as well as remotely perform commands from the console,” read the report.

The growth in mobile malware comes during a wider boom in global cybercrime levels, with Kaspersky claiming to have neutralised 983,051,408 incidents during Q2 2013.

Mobile malware has been a growing concern within the security community, with vendors reporting new sophisticated attacks and vulnerabilities on a near daily basis. Most recently Symantec reported finding a flaw in Google Android’s cryptographic protocols leaving as many as 360,000 applications open to attack.

Cross-posted from www.v3.co.uk

Tags: androidbotnetmalwaremobilewidespread
Share30Tweet19
Paul Anderson

Paul Anderson

Editor and chief at ZeroSecurity. Expertise includes programming, malware analysis, and penetration testing. If you would like to write for ZeroSecurity, please click "Contact us" at the top of the page.

Recommended For You

Syslogk Linux Rootkit triggers with magic packets

by Christi Rogalski
June 19, 2022 - Updated on June 20, 2022
0
Syslogk Linux Rootkit triggers with magic packets

Avast researchers have spotted a Linux rootkit that has the ability to hide malicious processes. The new Linux rootkit, called Syslogk, works by using magic packets to activate...

Read more

Are Bluetooth signals being used to track smartphones?

by Christi Rogalski
June 17, 2022
0
Bluetooth research leads to tracking

Can Bluetooth signals be used to track smartphones? Many people would say "No" to this question. However, a team of engineers at the University of California San Diego...

Read more

BlackCat Ransomware aka “ALPHV” infections on the rise

by Kyle
June 16, 2022
0
BlackCat Ransomware aka “ALPHV” infections on the rise

As the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) industry grows, more ransomware players come into the mix. BlackCat, also known as ALPHV, is a growing ransomware threat with the ability to target...

Read more

State-sponsored Iranian Hackers utilize .NET DNS Backdoor in new Attack

by Kyle
June 12, 2022
0
Lycaeum APT DNS hijacking backdoor

An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) hacking group based out of Iran going by the name Lycaeum has been seen using a .NET-based DNS backdoor to target organizations within...

Read more

Emotet Banking Trojan Re-Emerges After Take Down by Law Enforcement

by Paul Anderson
June 10, 2022
0
Emotet Banking Trojan 2022

Botnet Emotet has re-emerged after being taken down by a multinational joint task force operation in January 2021. The developers behind Emotet have been given credit as one...

Read more
Next Post
Blackshades 2.6.3 Source

Blackshades 2.6.3 Source

Related News

Google Chrome Extension fingerprinting source

Google Chrome exposes user extensions to fingerprinting

July 1, 2022
Downthem DDoS Service owner sentenced

Downthem DDoS service owner gets a 2-year prison sentence

June 30, 2022
Cloudflare record breaking DDoS

Cloudflare Stops Record-Breaking DDoS

June 29, 2022
Zerosecurity

We cover the latest in Information Security & Blockchain news, as well as threat trends targeting both sectors.

Categories

  • Crypto
  • Data Breaches
  • DotNet Framework
  • Downloads
  • Exploits
  • Exploits
  • Information
  • Legal
  • Malware
  • Malware Analysis
  • Mobile Security
  • Paper Downloads
  • Piracy
  • Privacy
  • Programming
  • Public
  • Security
  • Security
  • Software & Service Reviews
  • Technology News
  • Tools
  • Tutorials
  • Video Tutorials
  • Whitepapers
  • Zero Security
  • Contact Us
  • List of our Writers

© 2022 ZeroSecurity, All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Security
    • Tools
  • Data Breaches
  • Malware
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 ZeroSecurity, All Rights Reserved.