Android smartphones are increasingly attracting cybercriminals

The number of malicious programs targeting Android smartphones increased by almost a third in the second quarter of this year, according to the Eset T2 2021 report. One of the threats was software called Vultur, which attacks users of electronic banking and cryptocurrency wallets.

More and more threats targeting Android

Although in the last few editions of the report, Eset researchers noted a decrease in the number of detected threats for Android devices, this situation has now changed. It is caused by numerous spyware, adware and banking malware.

- said Kamil Sadkowski, senior cybersecurity specialist at Eset

Malware disguised as banking applications

According to the latest Eset report, the number of threats related to malicious banking applications has increased significantly. Compared to the results of the previous edition of the survey (covering the period from January to April this year), the number of detected threats of this type increased by almost 50%. One of the dangers in recent months has been software called Vultur, which targets online banking users and owners of cryptocurrency wallets. What makes this banking Trojan so special is that it uses screen recording and keystrokes to capture login details instead of HTML overlays, the most common solution used by other types of malware so far.

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FluBot, which was heard about in May this year, is another variant of Android banking malware. Its mechanism refers to the popularity of online shopping. Victims, mainly from European countries, received an SMS message impersonating a popular courier and logistics company with a link to install the application. Once it was installed and the required permissions were granted, FluBot unleashed a plethora of features, including SMS spamming and the theft of the victim's credit card numbers and online banking credentials. FluBot is classified by Eset as a variant of the Android/TrojanDropper.Agent family, which is currently the second most common Android threat in the world.

Alternative spyware

Spyware has also seen a significant increase in threats, especially those downloaded from alternative app stores. Stalkerware, or spyware, is nothing but programs that monitor another user's device. Although many people use them, for example, to track their partners, these applications are mainly used for cyberstalking. Eset researchers analyzed more than 80 stalkerware applications, most of which had vulnerabilities and other security issues.

- added Kamil Sadkowski

Security in the face of Android updates

When discussing the security and privacy of the Android ecosystem, it is important to note some of the changes and updates that will be available in Android 12. Google promises new software functionality that will provide users with greater control and transparency of handling their data. One of the most notable features of Android 12 is to add indicators that will show users in real time which apps are accessing the camera and microphone. With a view to increasing security, the system manufacturer already recommends users to switch to multi-factor authentication wherever possible.

- summed up Kamil Sadkowski from Eset

See: Android 12 finally released. What's new? See: Desserts are back: Android 12 is Snow Cone

Image credit: iconsdb.com

Text source: press release