Over 33 Million Malware, Adware Attacks On Mobile Were Blocked Last Year: Report

Malware, Adware and Riskware are some of the growing concerns for the digital ecosystem. The latest report suggests that Nearly 33.8 million attacks on mobile devices were blocked in 2023. The report claimed that over 50 per cent increase in such attacks compared to previous reports.

Three new, deadly kinds of Android malware were studied by researchers: Tambir, Dwphon, and Gigabud. Global cybersecurity company Kaspersky claims that the malicious programmes Tambir, Dwphon, and Gigabud have a variety of features that compromise user security and privacy. These features include bypassing two-factor authentication (2FA), downloading other programmes, and stealing credentials.

According to Jornt van der Wiel, a senior security researcher at Kaspersky’s GReAT, “Android malware and riskware activity surged in 2023 after two years of relative calm, returning to levels seen in 2021 by the end of the year.” Tambir is a spyware programme that targets Turkish users, according to the research.

Under the appearance of an IPTV app, it gathers private user data-like SMS texts and keystrokes-after gaining the necessary authorization.Dwphon was identified in November 2023 and focuses mostly on the Russian market, supplying OEM cell phones from China.

The malware gathers personal data and device information, and it is deployed as a part of a system update application. Active since the middle of 2022, Gigabud was first concentrated on obtaining consumers’ banking credentials in Southeast Asia before expanding into other nations like Peru. Since then, the researchers claimed, it has changed into a phoney loan virus that can record screen images and simulate user tapping in order to get around 2FA.

“Users should exercise caution and should avoid downloading apps from unofficial sources, meticulously reviewing app permissions,” Wiel stated. He continued by saying that these applications are devoid of exploitation capabilities and rely only on permissions that the user has allowed and that protecting the integrity of your Android device may be achieved by utilising anti-malware software.

(With Agency Inputs)