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Tag: Android

A retro-geeky Android home screen remix

One of the best parts about using Android is the good old-fashioned geeky fun that comes with finding new ways to improve your digital environment — and improve your day-to-day efficiency. That capability manifests itself in all sorts of interesting freedoms that (cough, cough) other mobile platforms don’t trust their users enough to allow —…

Google Patches Actively Exploited Android Flaw Affecting Millions of Devices

Google fixed 124 Android flaws, including CVE-2025-48595, an actively exploited privilege escalation bug linked to targeted attacks. Google has released its June 2026 Android security updates, fixing 124 vulnerabilities across the mobile operating system. One flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-48595 (CVSS score of 8.4) stands out from the rest because it is already being exploited in…

Google June 2026 Android Update Patches 124 Flaws, One Actively Exploited

Google on Monday released patches for 124 security vulnerabilities impacting its Android operating system for the month of June 2026, including one high-severity flaw in the Framework component that has come under active exploitation. Tracked as CVE-2025-48595 (CVSS score: 8.4), the security flaw has been described as a case of privilege escalation without requiring any…

Google Patches Android Zero-Day Under Active Exploitation 

Google has patched a high-severity Android zero-day vulnerability that attackers have already exploited in the wild.  The issue affects multiple Android releases and serves as a reminder that mobile operating systems remain a valuable target for threat actors seeking access to sensitive enterprise and personal data.  “There are indications that CVE-2025-48595 may be under limited,…

Google fixes actively exploited Android vulnerability (CVE-2025-48595)

Google has announced the June 2026 Android security updates, which fix a bucketload of vulnerabilities, including a high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-48595) in the Android Framework that “may be under limited, targeted exploitation.” About CVE-2025-48595 CVE-2025-48595 is an integer overflow vulnerability in the Android Framework, a set of APIs and system services that apps interact with directly.…

Darwinium updates mobile SDKs to detect remote access scam activity

Darwinium has announced updates to its Android and iOS mobile SDKs. It enables banks, payment providers, and digital businesses to tackle the proliferation of remote access scams, including those that manipulate live sessions and account farming operations that run mule networks. “Most fraud platforms validate trust at a single moment, typically at login or payment,…

Android Adds Intrusion Logging for Sophisticated Spyware Forensics

Google on Tuesday unveiled a new opt-in Android feature called Intrusion Logging for storing forensic logs to better analyze sophisticated spyware attacks. Intrusion Logging, available as part of Advanced Protection Mode, enables “persistent and privacy-preserving forensics logging to allow for investigation of devices in the event of a suspected compromise,” the company said. The feature,…

Google and Amnesty International teamed up to make it harder for spyware vendors to hide

Google launched a feature for Android phones Tuesday for dedicated forensic logs about intrusions from sophisticated attacks like those by spyware vendors, in what design partners at Amnesty International hailed as an important first. The tech giant has been ramping up the new feature, Intrusion Logging, since last year, and has now begun rolling it…

New TrickMo Variant Uses TON C2 and SOCKS5 to Create Android Network Pivots

Cybersecurity researchers have flagged a new version of the TrickMo Android banking trojan that uses The Open Network (TON) for command-and-control (C2). The new variant, observed by ThreatFabric between January and February 2026, has been observed actively targeting banking and cryptocurrency wallet users in France, Italy, and Austria. “TrickMo relies on a runtime-loaded APK  (dex.module),

Android banking Trojan TrickMo evolves using TON network for C2

ThreatFabric found a new TrickMo Android trojan focused on stealth and persistence, moving its command-and-control traffic to the TON network. Security researchers at ThreatFabric have recently identified a new version of TrickMo, a dangerous Android banking trojan that shows how malware operators are focusing less on flashy new features and more on improving stealth, flexibility,…

Google to pay up to $1.5 million for zero-click Pixel Titan M exploits

Google has revised its Android and Chrome Vulnerability Reward Programs (VRPs), which pay security researchers to report vulnerabilities in Android, Google hardware, and the Chrome browser. The update raises top bounties to $1.5 million and adjusts rewards for lower-complexity reports. The program targets vulnerability classes that automated tools struggle to detect and prioritizes researcher-driven findings.…

Critical Android vulnerability CVE-2026-0073 fixed by Google

Google patched a critical Android flaw (CVE‑2026‑0073) that lets attackers run code remotely without user action. Google released a security update for Android to address a critical remote code execution flaw, tracked as CVE‑2026‑0073, in the System component. The bug allowed attackers to run code as the shell user without needing extra permissions, or any…

Android Zero-Click RCE Vulnerability Enables Remote Shell Access  

Google has released a patch for an Android vulnerability that allows remote code execution (RCE) without requiring any user interaction.  The flaw could “… lead to remote (proximal/adjacent) code execution as the shell user with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation,” said Google in its security advisory. Inside the…

Google Revamps Bug Bounty Programs: Android Rewards Rise, Chrome Payouts Drop in the Age of AI

Google revamps bug bounties: Android rewards rise to $1.5M, Chrome payouts drop, shifting focus to high-impact, AI-resistant vulnerabilities. Google has announced a major overhaul of its Vulnerability Reward Programs (VRP) for Android and Chrome, marking a strategic shift in how the company approaches cybersecurity. The update comes as artificial intelligence tools are reshaping the field…

New Android spyware Morpheus linked to Italian surveillance firm

Osservatorio Nessuno uncovered Morpheus spyware spreading via fake Android apps to steal data, highlighting rising covert surveillance tools. The non-partisan, non-religious, nonprofit organization Osservatorio Nessuno exposed a new spyware called Morpheus, distributed through fake Android apps posing as updates. Once installed, it can steal extensive data from the infected devices. The report shows strong demand…

A study of 1,000 Android apps finds a privacy policy logging gap

Android developers write log statements for the same reasons they always have: debugging crashes, tracing performance issues, and understanding how features behave in production. Legal and privacy teams, working from templates and regulatory checklists, draft policies describing what the app collects from users. These two workflows rarely intersect inside the same company. A new study…

NGate Campaign Targets Brazil, Trojanizes HandyPay to Steal NFC Data and PINs

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a new iteration of an Android malware family calledNGate that has been found to abuse a legitimate application called HandyPay instead of NFCGate. “The threat actors took the app, which is used to relay NFC data, and patched it with malicious code that appears to have been AI-generated,” ESET security researcher Lukáš…

Mirax malware campaign hits 220K accounts, enables full remote control

Mirax, a new Android RAT, spread via Meta ads, infected 220,000 users and turns devices into SOCKS5 proxies, giving attackers full remote control. Mirax is a new Android remote access trojan spreading through ads on Meta platforms, targeting mainly Spanish-speaking users and reaching over 220,000 accounts. The malicious code lets attackers fully control infected devices…

Mirax Android RAT Turns Devices into SOCKS5 Proxies, Reaching 220,000 via Meta Ads

A nascent Android remote access trojan called Mirax has been observed actively targeting Spanish-speaking countries, with campaigns reaching more than 220,000 accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads through advertisements on Meta. “Mirax integrates advanced Remote Access Trojan (RAT) capabilities, allowing threat actors to fully interact with compromised devices in real

Google adds end-to-end Gmail encryption to Android, iOS devices for enterprises

Google has made a big step forward by extending end-to-end encryption to Android and iOS devices for Gmail client-side encryption (CSE) users, says an expert. “All in all, this is a welcome update, especially in light of recent concerns surrounding WhatsApp’s encryption methods,” said Gartner analyst Avivah Litan. “Google’s approach offers verifiable customer-managed keys and…

Google adds end-to-end Gmail encryption to Android, iOS devices for enterprises

Google has made a big step forward by extending end-to-end encryption to Android and iOS devices for Gmail client-side encryption (CSE) users, says an expert. “All in all, this is a welcome update, especially in light of recent concerns surrounding WhatsApp’s encryption methods,” said Gartner analyst Avivah Litan. “Google’s approach offers verifiable customer-managed keys and…

Gmail’s end-to-end encryption comes to mobile, no extra apps required

Google has expanded Gmail client-side encryption to Android and iOS devices, allowing users to engage with their organization’s most sensitive data on mobile devices while ensuring data remains compliant with sovereignty and compliance requirements. This feature is available for Enterprise Plus users with the Assured Controls or Assured Controls Plus add-on. Composing a E2EE message…

EngageLab SDK flaw opens door to private data on 50M Android devices

A flaw in EngageLab SDK exposed up to 50M Android users, including 30M crypto wallets, letting apps bypass security and access private data. Microsoft researchers found a critical flaw in EngageSDK that lets apps bypass Android sandbox protections and access private data. The flaw put millions of users, including over 30M crypto wallet installs, at…

Free VPNs leak your data while claiming privacy

Most free Android VPNs track users, request dangerous permissions, and connect to risky servers, privacy comes at a hidden cost. Free VPN apps are some of the most popular downloads on Android, promising privacy at no cost. But the reality is far from what they advertise. Most users tap “install” without a second thought, unaware…

Android Developer Verification Rollout Begins Ahead of September Enforcement

Google on Monday said it’s officially rolling out Android developer verification to all developers to combat the problem of bad actors distributing harmful apps while “hiding behind anonymity.” The development comes ahead of a planned verification mandate that goes into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand this September, before it expands globally next year.…

Cybersecurity jobs available right now: March 31, 2026

Android Malware Research Director Alice | Israel | On-site – View job details As an Android Malware Research Director, you will establish operational processes, workflows, and quality standards for the team, while integrating the function into existing infrastructure. You will act as the primary client interface, managing relationships, presenting research findings, and ensuring client satisfaction.…

Security for the Quantum Era: Implementing Post-Quantum Cryptography in Android

Posted by Eric Lynch, Product Manager, Android and Dom Elliot, Group Product Manager, Google Play Modern digital security is at a turning point. We are on the threshold of using quantum computers to solve “impossible” problems in drug discovery, materials science, and energy—tasks that even the most powerful classical supercomputers cannot handle. However, the same…

New Perseus Android Banking Malware Monitors Notes Apps to Extract Sensitive Data

Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed a new Android malware family called Perseus that’s being actively distributed in the wild with an aim to conduct device takeover (DTO) and financial fraud. Perseus is built upon the foundations of Cerberus and Phoenix, at the same time evolving into a “more flexible and capable platform” for compromising Android devices…

Advanced Protection Mode in Android 17 prevents apps from misusing Accessibility Services

Android 17 will block non-accessibility apps from using the Accessibility API under Advanced Protection Mode to reduce malware abuse. Android 17 introduces a new security feature in Advanced Protection Mode (AAPM) that blocks apps without accessibility functions from accessing the Accessibility API. The change, first reported by Android Authority and included in Android 17 Beta…

Six Android Malware Families Target Pix Payments, Banking Apps, and Crypto Wallets

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered half-a-dozen new Android malware families that come with capabilities to steal data from compromised devices and conduct financial fraud. The Android malware range from traditional banking trojans like PixRevolution, TaxiSpy RAT, BeatBanker, Mirax, and Oblivion RAT to full-fledged remote administration tools such as SURXRAT. PixRevolution, according to

BeatBanker malware targets Android users with banking Trojan and crypto miner

BeatBanker Android malware spreads through fake Starlink apps on websites imitating Google Play Store, hijacking devices, stealing credentials, and mining crypto. A new Android malware called BeatBanker spreads through fake Starlink apps distributed on websites posing as the Google Play Store. Once installed, it hijacks devices, steals login credentials, tampers with cryptocurrency transactions, and secretly…

CVE-2026-21385: Google Patches Qualcomm Zero-Day Exploited in Targeted Android Attacks

Steady cadence of Android zero-days marked as exploited in the wild makes its path to 2026. Following CVE-2025-48633 and CVE-2025-48572, two Android Framework bugs Google flagged for active exploitation, defenders keep seeing the same familiar pattern. Mobile-chain vulnerabilities can move fast from limited attacks to real enterprise risk when patching lags.  In March 2026, that…

Android devices hit by exploited Qualcomm flaw CVE-2026-21385

Google confirms that the Qualcomm Android vulnerability CVE-2026-21385 was exploited in real-world attacks. Google has confirmed that CVE-2026-21385 (CVSS score of 7.8), a high-severity vulnerability affecting an open-source Qualcomm component used in Android devices, has been actively exploited. “There are indications that CVE-2026-21385 may be under limited, targeted exploitation.” reads Google’s advisory. The flaw is…

Android’s March 2026 security patch fixes over 100 flaws, one under targeted exploitation

The Android March 2026 security patch addresses vulnerabilities across dozens of components and includes one CVE confirmed under active exploitation. Devices running a patch level of 2026-03-05 or later receive fixes for all disclosed issues. Android March 2026 security patch includes one CVE under active exploitation The bulletin notes indications that CVE-2026-21385 may be under…

Android 17 second beta expands privacy controls for contacts, SMS and local networks

Google’s second beta of Android 17 continues updates to platform behavior and introduces new APIs focused on protecting sensitive data. Protecting contact and local network data A new system-level Contacts Picker gives apps temporary access only to the contact information a user selects. It limits contact data exposure and works across both personal and work…

WhatsApp is adding another lock to your account

Meta has released WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.26.7.8 through the Google Play Beta Program. The update includes references to password-protected accounts, indicating plans to introduce an additional layer of protection beyond the app’s current authentication options. WhatsApp is exploring the implementation of a feature that will introduce a password (Source: WABetaInfo) The feature will allow…

PromptSpy abuses Gemini AI to gain persistent access on Android

PromptSpy is the first Android malware to abuse Google’s Gemini AI, enabling persistence and advanced spying features. Security researchers at ESET have uncovered PromptSpy, the first known Android malware to exploit Google’s Gemini AI to maintain persistence. The malware can capture lockscreen data, block uninstallation attempts, collect device information, take screenshots, and record screen activity…

PromptSpy Android Malware Abuses Gemini AI to Automate Recent-Apps Persistence

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered what they say is the first Android malware that abuses Gemini, Google’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, as part of its execution flow and achieves persistence. The malware has been codenamed PromptSpy by ESET. The malware is equipped to capture lockscreen data, block uninstallation efforts, gather device information, take screenshots,

Keeping Google Play & Android app ecosystems safe in 2025

Posted by Vijaya Kaza, VP and GM, App & Ecosystem Trust The Android ecosystem is a thriving global community built on trust, giving billions of users the confidence to download the latest apps. In order to maintain that trust, we’re focused on ensuring that apps do not cause real-world harm, such as malware, financial fraud,…

Fake IPTV Apps Spread Massiv Android Malware Targeting Mobile Banking Users

Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of a new Android trojan called Massiv that’s designed to facilitate device takeover (DTO) attacks for financial theft. The malware, according to ThreatFabric, masquerades as seemingly harmless IPTV apps to deceive victims, indicating that the activity is primarily singling out users looking for the online TV applications. “This new threat,…

Keenadu: Android malware that comes preinstalled and can’t be removed by users

There’s too little a user can do when hit with a complex Android malware that comes preinstalled on their new smartphone or tablet. Security researchers at Kaspersky have flagged a multifaceted Android malware dubbed Keenadu that can ship preinstalled via device firmware, compromising users before they even complete setup. “Keenadu serves as a reminder that…