Security News > 2021 > November > Android banking malware infects 300,000 Google Play users
Malware campaigns distributing Android trojans that steals online bank credentials have infected almost 300,000 devices through malicious apps pushed via Google's Play Store.
The Android banking trojans delivered onto compromised devices attempt to steal users' credentials when they log in to an online banking or cryptocurrency apps.
"This policing by Google has forced actors to find ways to significantly reduce the footprint of dropper apps. Besides improved malware code efforts, Google Play distribution campaigns are also more refined than previous campaigns," ThreatFabric researchers explain in their new report.
When ready to distribute the banking trojan, the threat actor's server will tell the installed app to perform a fake "Update" that "Drops" and launches the malware on the Android device.
Google has since removed all of these malicious apps from the Play Store and you should also immediately remove them from your Android device if you have any of them installed.
Due to the evolving techniques used by Android malware developers, users must pay more attention to the permissions requested by apps and block the install if they seem overly broad..
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