More than 200 malicious applications managed to infiltrate the Google Play Store between June 2023 and April 2024, despite Google’s strict security measures. Security firm Zscaler reported that these malicious applications accumulated more than 8 million downloads, taking advantage of unsuspecting users.
38% of these applications were designed to spread malware Joker, also known as Breaddiscovered in 2017. This rogue software is especially dangerous, as it subscribes victims to premium services without their knowledge, inflating your bills through SMS, in-app purchases and subscriptions.
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In addition to Jokeradware represented 35% of the threats detected. This type of malware deploys fraudulent ads in various formssuch as pop-ups, images or videos, affecting the user experience.
Other relevant malware is Facestealerwhich made up 14% of the threats. This program is designed to steal user credentials, specifically from Facebook, exposing your personal information to account theft.
Rise of banking and espionage malware
The Zscaler report also notes a worrying increase in two types of malware: banking and espionage. Although overall Android threats decreased, banking malware grew by 29%, representing 20% of total Android threats. This type of software mainly uses Trojans (43%) and unwanted applications (35%), while adware completes 11% of this group.
On the other hand, spy malware saw a 111% increase, with threats such as Vultur, Hydra and Anatsa, which managed to circumvent the security systems of the Google Play Store, putting user privacy at risk.
*The creation of this content was assisted by artificial intelligence. The information was provided and reviewed by a journalist to ensure accuracy. The content was not generated automatically.
