New Delhi: A report has prevented 33.8 million malware, adware and riskware attacks that could affect mobile devices globally in 2023. The report also revealed that there was a 50 percent increase in such attacks in 2023 over the previous year's figures. The researchers have also analyzed three new dangerous Android malware variants – named Tambir, Dwphon and Gigabud.
According to global cyber security company Kaspersky, these malwares are used by hackers to download other programs, steal credentials, bypass two-factor authentication (2FA) and perform screen recording. Malwares put user privacy and security at risk.
Android malware and riskware activity spiked significantly in 2023 after two years of calm. By the end of the year it will return to the level seen in 2021' – said a senior security researcher at Kaspersky.
Tambir is reportedly a spyware application targeting users. Disguised as an IPTV app, this app collects sensitive user information like SMS messages and keystrokes after obtaining appropriate permissions.
Dwphon, discovered in November 2023, targets cell phones from Chinese OEM manufacturers. It is primarily aimed at the Russian market. The malware is distributed to phones as a component of the system update application, and collects information about the device and personal data.
Active since mid-2022, Gigabud initially focused on stealing banking credentials from users in Southeast Asia, but has since expanded to other countries such as Peru. It later evolved into a fake loan malware, and researchers warn that the malware is even capable of screen recording to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA).