This Android Malware Hides As A System Update App To Spy On You – New malware with extensive spyware capabilities steals data from infected Android devices and is designed to automatically trigger whenever new information is ready to be exfiltrated.
The spyware can only be installed as a ‘System Update’ app via third-party Android app stores, as it was never available on Google’s Play Store.
This Android Malware Hides As A System Update App To Spy On You
This drastically limits the number of devices it can infect, as most experienced users will most likely avoid installing it in the first place.
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The malware also lacks a method to infect other Android devices on its own, adding to its limited spread capabilities.
But when it comes to stealing your data, this remote access trojan (RAT) can collect and exfiltrate a wide range of information to its command-and-control server.
Zimperium researchers who saw it said it is capable of “stealing data, messages, photos and taking control of Android phones.”
“Once in control, hackers can record audio and phone calls, take photos, review browsing history, access WhatsApp messages and more,” they added.
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Once installed on an Android device, the malware sends several pieces of information to its Firebase command-and-control (C2) server, including storage statistics, the internet connection type, and the presence of various apps such as WhatsApp.
The spyware harvests data directly if it has root access or will use Accessibility Services after tricking victims into enabling the feature on the compromised device.
It also scans the external storage for any stored or cached data, harvests it and delivers it to the C2 servers when the user connects to a Wi-Fi network.
Unlike other malware designed to steal data, this one will only be triggered using Android’s contentObserver and Broadcast receivers when certain conditions are met, such as adding a new contact, new text messages, or new apps being installed.
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“Commands received through the Firebase messaging service initiate actions such as recording audio from the microphone and exfiltrating data such as SMS messages,” Zimperium said.
“The Firebase communication is only used to issue the commands and a dedicated C&C server is used to collect the stolen data using a POST request.”
The malware will also display fake “Searching for update..” system update messages when it receives new commands from its masters to camouflage its malicious activity.
To further avoid detection, it will only steal thumbnails of videos and images it finds, thus reducing victims’ bandwidth usage to avoid drawing their attention to the background data exfiltration activity.
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Also, unlike other malware that collects data in bulk, this one will ensure that it only exfiltrates the most recent data, collecting location data created and photos taken within the last few minutes.
Indicators of compromise, including malware sample hashes and C2 server addresses used by this spyware, are available at the end of
Sergiu Gatlan Sergiu is a news reporter who has been covering the latest cyber security and technology developments for over a decade. Email or Twitter DMs for tips. Install Norton 360 for mobile to help prevent hackers from listening in on your calls and stealing your personal information.
Install Norton 360 for mobile to help prevent hackers from listening in on your calls and stealing your information.
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Be Careful What You Pwish For
Powerful spy software is out there, but how do we know if anyone is listening? Wiretapping can happen to anyone, from politicians and journalists to celebrities and even ordinary people. Learn how to tell if your phone is being tapped, tips to prevent it, and how a mobile security app can help block tracking and protect your data.
Several control signs could indicate that someone is tracking, tapping or monitoring your phone. The signs can be subtle, but when you know what to look out for, they can also be glaring.
If you hear clicking sounds, static or mumbling, distant and weak voices coming through your phone during conversations, it could be a sign that someone is eavesdropping. Hearing strange noises every now and then may indicate that you have a poor signal. But if this happens often, someone may have tapped your phone.
Reduced battery performance may indicate a faulty mobile phone. Mobile device batteries can be drained by playing a lot of games or streaming movies and series. But if your battery is draining while it’s resting, it could be because someone is tracking your device.
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If a cell phone is tapped, spyware records your conversations and activities and transmits them to a third party, constantly working in the background to monitor your activity. This leaves a footprint in the form of increased battery life and a phone whose battery drains faster.
If your phone makes noise, the screen lights up when you’re not using it, or you receive calls and notifications while it’s on silent, it could signal that someone has hacked your phone.
If you see any of these signs and your device restarts on its own, it’s a likely sign that someone has remote access to your device.
Before a smartphone shuts down, it must complete any remaining tasks. If your phone is sending data to someone, it must complete the process before shutting down. As a result, if a phone takes longer than usual to turn off, especially after a call, text, email or web browsing, it may be sending information to a third party.
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Malware can change the way your phone handles tasks such as displaying websites. While there are many reasons why websites look different on phones, malware can also hijack your browser’s behavior and send you to malicious websites.
Malware can display fake pages (that look completely genuine), but then steal your login information if you enter your information on the page. This is common for phishing schemes – make sure to close any sites that look strange or look different than they once did.
Another indicator of a possible phone tap is the temperature of your battery. If your phone feels warm even though you haven’t edited it, it might be because it’s secretly sending data. Spyware can run resource-intensive operations in the background, causing your phone to heat up.
A clear way to tell if someone has tapped your phone is if you receive strange text messages that contain random numbers, symbols, or characters. The remote control feature in some spy software works by sending secret, coded text messages to your phone. These texts shouldn’t be visible, but software bugs can pull back the blur.
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Have you ever noticed an orange or green dot at the top of your phone’s screen? This means that the phone is using a microphone, a camera or an app. While there are many legitimate reasons why your phone might be listening to you, if you notice these indicators turning on and off, it could mean that malware has tapped your phone, hacked your camera, and is secretly recording you.
Some spy apps use large amounts of data to export the information collected from your phone, so watch out for an unexplained increase in your monthly data age. Advanced spyware programs’ data age will be harder to spot, but you may still be able to detect it if you check regularly and carefully.
Reviewing your apps helps determine whether your phone is being tapped or not. Beware that spyware often disguises itself with generic, common names and hides from your default app list.
These hidden apps may request permissions that don’t match their supposed function, such as a “System Update” app that requests microphone access. If you discover unknown apps that you don’t remember installing, remove them immediately.
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There is a large and thriving industry dedicated to snooping on others via spyware. And while some spyware – such as Pegas spyware – is built and maintained by powerful organizations and has been developed by government actors, most commercially available spyware can be found if you know what you’re looking for.
Finding spyware on an Android device can be easier than trying to root it out on devices other than the open source operating system, making it easier to uninstall apps.
If you find spicio apps, get mobile security software to prevent it from coming back. Norton Mobile Security for Android includes powerful anti-malware features that help you identify and block spyware and other malicious threats.
Unless you are the target of an incredibly sophisticated iPhone hacking operation, in order for spyware to be installed on an iPhone, the device will most likely need to be jailbroken. So unless your iPhone is jailbroken, it’s unlikely you have spyware on it. However, if you have a jailbroken iOS device, these steps can help you find spyware.
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Protect your iPhone with a dedicated mobile security app like Norton Mobile Security for iOS, which can help clear out any
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