Researchers have analyzed a new Android banking Trojan called Rokarolla. It can effectively take over a device, steal banking and crypto login details from more than 200 apps, and quietly monitor much of what you do on your phone.

On an infected device, Rokarolla steals banking and crypto login details. It also uses fake lock-screen overlays to capture your PIN, pattern, or password.

When you open one of the banking or crypto apps on Rokarolla’s target list, the malware downloads and displays a matching fake login page over the real app. Anything you type into the fake page, including usernames, passwords, and card numbers, is sent to the attackers.

Separately, Rokarolla abuses Android’s Accessibility features to monitor activity across the device. It can recognize WhatsApp screens by looking for familiar labels such as “Chats” and “Calls,” extract contact information, read SMS messages, and send new ones. These capabilities can help it intercept one-time passwords (OTPs) and two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.

Rokarolla can take control of text messages and phone calls, helping it block security alerts and hide signs of fraud.

It can also record everything you type and see on the screen. If you copy and paste a cryptocurrency wallet address, the malware can secretly replace it with one belonging to the attackers.

Other features help the malware stay hidden, including the ability to hide its icon, silence the device, turn off Google Play Protect, and prevent the screen from going to sleep.

How it spreads

Rokarolla is distributed through rogue websites, where it is offered as fake versions of popular apps like TikTok or Chrome.

Instead of sending you to the official Google Play Store, these malicious sites push you to download the app directly, a process known as sideloading. After you install it, the fake app poses as Google Play Protect and quietly downloads and installs the malware that carries out the attack.

To gain the access it needs, the fake app asks for powerful permissions, including Accessibility access, the permission to read SMS messages, and access to notifications. Because these requests can look legitimate, many users may approve them without realizing the risks.

How to stay safe

To avoid banking Trojans like Rokarolla, there are a few guidelines you should follow:

• Don’t trust apps that claim to be Google Play Protect or another system component. You should never need to install these manually.
• Use up-to-date, real-time anti-malware protection with web protection on your devices.
• Don’t sideload apps that are available on the Google Play Store. While malware can sometimes slip into official stores, the risk is much greater elsewhere.
• Deny powerful permissions to apps downloaded from links or websites, especially if they ask for Accessibility access, SMS permissions, or the ability to handle calls, even though that doesn’t match their stated purpose.
• In fact, any request for Accessibility access should be treated with caution. If an app that is not clearly an accessibility tool asks for it, deny the request and reconsider whether you trust the source.
• Scrutinize banking and crypto login screens. If something looks off, or you see multiple login prompts, close the app and relaunch it from its official icon.

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Scammers know more about you than you think. 

Malwarebytes Mobile Security protects you from phishing, scam texts, malicious sites, and more. With real-time AI-powered Scam Guard built right in. 

Download for iOS → Download for Android → 

The UK’s Metropolitan Police has reached an agreement with Apple designed to make stolen iPhones harder to resell and less attractive to thieves. The approach combines stronger technical protections with direct data sharing between Apple and law enforcement.

In 2023, about 1.4 million mobile phones were stolen in the US alone. London is reportedly one of the worst cities for phone theft, with around 200 devices stolen every day. 

As part of this effort, Apple has strengthened its Stolen Device Protection feature in iOS 26.4, making it harder for thieves to change security settings, factory‑reset a stolen iPhone, or set it up as new.

Previously, thieves with your passcode (or who snatched your iPhone while it was still unlocked) could factory reset it, wiping your account and making the device look new for resale. Stolen Device Protection blocks this, requiring biometric authentication, not just a passcode, to make critical changes.

The Met has started sharing identifiers for reported stolen devices with Apple. In return, Apple can provide data on whether those devices later attempt to reconnect to a network or attempt to be reactivated.

Police say this gives them a better picture of what happens to stolen devices: Are they being switched back on locally? Shipped abroad? Broken down for parts?

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said Apple believes it has “cracked” the engineering problem. Phone thefts in London have since fallen 18% year-on-year, with Westminster (the capital’s worst-affected borough) down 45.8%.

Given the early signs of success, the Met is pressing for broader changes.

The Commissioner has written to the Home Secretary asking for laws that would require all phone manufacturers and mobile operators to share information about stolen devices and implement measures that make stolen handsets unusable. 

As part of that effort, the Met has explicitly said that Samsung and Google are also improving device security to address phone theft, suggesting this will become an industry‑wide expectation rather than an Apple‑only initiative.

Possible pitfalls

From a privacy perspective, it’s important to keep an eye on what data is shared, and who can see it.

Reports so far suggest that Apple and the Met are exchanging device identifiers and high‑level information about whether a stolen phone has attempted to reconnect or be reactivated. In theory, that sounds narrow and purpose‑bound: device X was reported stolen, later tried to come online in country Y, at time Z. There is no public indication that content, contacts, or location histories are being handed over wholesale.

There’s also a risk of someone reporting your phone as stolen. If a device is incorrectly marked as stolen, the protections designed to stop thieves could lock an innocent user out, turning a valuable asset into a brick. Without transparent appeal mechanisms, this is a notable concern.

The measures could also create challenges for recycling initiatives, legitimate repair shops, and refurbishers. They may face additional hurdles when diagnosing, restoring, or reselling devices if anti-theft protections become more restrictive.

Stay safe

Make sure your phone is protected with a strong passcode and biometric security, such as Face ID or a fingerprint.

Enable Apple’s Find My feature, or the Android equivalent, and make sure it is linked to a strong account password.

Keep lock screen notifications to a minimum so thieves cannot quickly access your sensitive information if they get hold of your device.

When buying a used phone, use a reputable seller and make sure the device has been reset by its owner. Complete the initial setup process with the seller present to confirm the phone isn’t locked to someone else’s account or reported stolen.

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Scammers know more about you than you think. 

Malwarebytes Mobile Security protects you from phishing, scam texts, malicious sites, and more. With real-time AI-powered Scam Guard built right in. 

Download for iOS → Download for Android → 

Build something that doesn’t exist. Don’t collect any data while you do it. Get it wrong and the CEO could face criminal charges. That’s close to the ultimatum the UK government handed Apple and Google on June 8. The two companies have three months to introduce device-level protections blocking nudity across every smartphone and tablet sold in the UK. If they don’t, the government will legislate—including fines and, as a last resort, criminal liability for tech bosses.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the move at London Tech Week, telling the firms:

“If they choose not to, then we will act and change the law.”

The policy reads cleanly. The execution doesn’t.

What’s already on your child’s phone, and what isn’t

Both companies already do something to prevent children interacting with nudes. Apple’s Communication Safety feature warns children with a Child Account when they send or receive images and videos containing nudity across Messages, AirDrop, FaceTime, and other apps. It updated the feature with new functionality at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) this week.

Google’s Sensitive Content Warnings blur sensitive imagery in Google Messages for supervised users and signed-in unsupervised teens—though the feature covers images only, not video.

Apple will soon require people to confirm that they are over 18 in the UK and some other countries to access certain features on their phones. That will involve age assurance through government ID, payment information, or other verification methods depending on region.

These measures aren’t enough, according to the UK government. It complains that existing nudity detection isn’t applied to the camera or other apps, third-party messaging services, or search functions. So in other words, the protections miss most of the phone. The camera, WhatsApp, Signal, Safari, and the photo library all sit outside the protective bubble parents may assume already exists.

Is privacy-respecting scanning possible?

The announcement also contains a line that’s hard to reconcile with the rest of it:

“Companies must introduce these measures without threatening privacy or collecting any data.”

Adults can opt out, but only by completing age verification.

That’s a tall order. Privacy advocates argue that age verification inevitably creates new data collection risks, even when companies try to minimize the information they store. Whatever Apple and Google build, some form of record-keeping seems likely. If executives can face personal liability for non-compliance, someone has to be able to demonstrate what the system did and when.

The government’s proof that any of this is achievable rests on a single product: SafeToNet’s HarmBlock, which the Home Office calls “a proven example” of safe-by-default device protection. HarmBlock’s source code (which isn’t public) analyzes images and live streams entirely on-device.

Digital privacy groups were not happy with the announcement. Big Brother Watch pointed out that children could easily access adult-registered devices, and warned that mandatory ID checks for adults would mean “the death of anonymity and internet privacy.”

Private messaging app Signal said promises the scanning would run only on-device were “cold comfort” because wherever the system runs, its reach would ultimately be determined by government, not technology:

“Its scope will be defined by the whims and proscriptions of the government to detect nudity today and political speech tomorrow.”

Apple has been here before. In 2021, it announced a separate plan to detect known child sexual abuse imagery on devices by matching image hashes against a database of known material, and quietly shelved it after sustained backlash from privacy advocates.

What families can do today

September will end in voluntary compliance or hurried legislation. Either way, none of that changes what’s on your child’s phone right now. Today, the messaging channels most heavily used by teenagers aren’t protected. Many grooming and sextortion cases begin on apps that operate outside the operating system’s built-in safety features. Parents and kids can take extra steps for protection:

• Turn on Communication Safety on iPhones with a Child Account, and Sensitive Content Warnings on supervised Android Messages. They might only blunt the problem at one narrow point, but it’s better than nothing.
• Talk to your kids about coerced sharing. The Internet Watch Foundation reported that 91% of reports it assessed in 2024 contained self-generated content submitted by children themselves. Children are often coerced into sending explicit material to abusers online. The Internet Watch Foundation has a list of resources for people who are being coerced into sending intimate images online.
• Cover the basics that outlive any policy: put unique passwords on all accounts, and add multi-factor authentication.
• Be careful when sharing images of children you know online. Increasingly, criminals can use non-explicit images to create sexual content using AI that can in turn be used for extortion.

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Sometimes it happens. You’re happily playing a game on your phone or laptop when suddenly alarms pop up out of nowhere:

“Your device is infected!”

“Your iCloud is full!”

“Your account is restricted for watching porn!”

Some games can be played for free if you agree to watch ads, and in others you can get extra lives, perks, or boosters by watching ads. That’s fine, as long as you’re given a choice and the ads are legitimate.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals sometimes manage to buy advertising space and use it to defraud gamers.

Let’s look at some examples.

The iCloud storage scam, or its OneDrive equivalent, is a well-known and long-running scam that claims you need to expand your storage or all your files will be deleted. The websites these messages link to come in many forms, but they all ask for personal and payment details to complete the upgrade.

“Your account has been restricted.
We have detected that your device has been hacked after visiting adult websites.
Solution:
1:Click the “OK” button below;

2:You will be redirected to App Store;

3:Install and open the app, then run the cleanup program.”

This ad is a scam and uses a classic scare tactic. It falsely claims your device has been hacked and tries to pressure you into clicking “OK” and installing a cleanup app.

Messages like this sometimes claim to be from your ISP, a “Security Department,” or a generic “Safety Center.”

“Apple Security Alert
8 viruses have been detected on your iPhone. Now iOS is damaged by 72%. Further damage to the system will result in device lockup and loss of all data within two minutes.
Please click the button below to remove all viruses.”

This is another fake warning, commonly used by scammers to trick users into clicking links or downloading unnecessary or harmful software. Apple doesn’t send alerts like this, and these messages use vague threats to get your attention.

What kind of app you’re really installing if you follow the instructions depends on your device and your location. If you’re “lucky,” it’s just adware, but you might just as easily end up with an infostealer.

In many cases, you’ll end up with fleeceware, a type of deceptive mobile app where developers lure users in with short free trials that quickly convert into hidden subscription fees, sometimes costing hundreds of dollars per month. These apps often offer some functionality to stay on the barely legal side of things, but at wildly inflated prices.

How to stay safe

The best response to these messages is simply to ignore them.

Real system alerts come from the OS, not from inside a game window or browser tab. Here’s a simple test: If you can switch apps and the “warning” disappears with the browser/game, it was not a system‑level alert.

Check the destination URLs before proceeding. Apple, Google, and major ISPs use predictable domains. A familiar-looking URL is not proof that a message is legitimate, but if the URL looks suspicious, it should definitely be treated as a scam.

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You may arrive at something that looks like the official App Store or Google Play Store. Be wary of lookalike app stores and unofficial download sites, but if you are on the real store, the app is generally safer to install. However, it’s still worth checking reviews, permissions, and the developer before proceeding.

Visit the official website of the organization the message claims to be from and log in there. If there’s a genuine problem with your account, storage, or device, you’ll find information about it through official channels.

Use an up-to-date, real-time anti-malware solution on your devices that can detect and block malicious apps.

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Scammers know more about you than you think. 

Malwarebytes Mobile Security protects you from phishing, scam texts, malicious sites, and more. With real-time AI-powered Scam Guard built right in. 

Download for iOS → Download for Android → 

Does it sometimes take your phone a few minutes to accomplish one simple task? That can be wildly frustrating.

But you’re in luck, because we’ve got a free tool that scans your phone for leftover files, temporary data, outdated caches and helps you clean up all that junk.

Introducing our Junk Cleaner for Android.

The new, free feature in our app clears out your unused files, helps protect your privacy, frees up valuable storage space, and improves your device’s performance.

Start cleaning up your phone now. Download the app and clear out your junk.

How to clean up your Android device

1. Open the Malwarebytes app on your Android device

2. On the Junk Cleaner card, tap Clean

If this is your first time using Junk Cleaner, you’ll need to grant permissions:

• Allow file access: Tap Give permission, then turn on Allow Malwarebytes to manage all files.
• Allow usage access: Tap Go to Settings. Under App usage data, tap Malwarebytes, then turn on Permit access to app usage data. If the toggle is grayed out, follow the on-screen instructions to enable access.

3. Return to the Junk Cleaner screen and tap Refresh

4. Tap Select all, then Clean all

Once the cleanup is complete, you’ll see an “All clean” screen showing how much storage space you freed up.

Prefer to remove files individually? Just select the files or folders you want to delete, then tap Clean.

Important: Once files are deleted with Junk Cleaner, they cannot be recovered using the Malwarebytes app.

Get started

Download Malwarebytes for Android and start cleaning up your device today.

Not a Malwarebytes user yet? No problem, it’s never too late to start. Whether you’re looking for yourself, your family, or a small business, we have a range of plans to choose from.

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To get a valid session token to use with Burp Suite tools, I ended up writing a small Python extension (110 lines of code, but who’s counting?) that obtained a new session token for each request, allowing items like Intruder to work as intended. Cool, I was able to use it during the test, but I would like this to be repeatable. So, this blog is releasing Swapper, a regex pattern-based match/replace Burp Suite extension.

The post Swapper – A Pure Regex Match/Replace Burp Extension appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

Some of the apps on your phone want your contacts. Most don’t need them all, but have been happily slurping up the lot for years. Google has decided to do something about that with the next version of Android.

Android 17 (currently in preview) is introducing a new Contact Picker that lets users grant apps access to specific contacts rather than the entire list.

Previously, any app that needed a single phone number had to request READ_CONTACTS. That’s a permission that handed over every name, email, and number. It’s the digital equivalent of handing someone your entire Rolodex because they asked for one business card.

An app that can harvest your entire contact list can map your social network, identify your family members, and potentially hand that data to whoever’s buying. So whenever you click “yes” to “show us all your contacts” it isn’t just your privacy you’re playing with.

From Android 17 onward, apps will need to be more specific about what contact data they access. Phone number? Fine. Email address? Sure. Your cousin’s mailing address? Not unless the app has a reason.

Google’s updated Play policy will require apps to use the Contact Picker or the Android Sharesheet as the main way to access contacts. READ_CONTACTS will be reserved for apps that genuinely can’t function without it. 

Location sharing gets the privacy treatment

Location permissions are also set to become more granular and privacy-friendly in Android 17.

Previously, apps could ask for your precise or general location, and you could allow it just once, any time you’re using the app, or not at all. The new button adds nuance by letting app developers ask for your location in the moment, tied to a specific action, like finding a local cafe.

There will also be a persistent indicator to let you know when an app is using your location, similar to the alerts for camera or microphone access. And you’ll be able to find out which apps are tracking you as well.

Google blocked 8.3 billion bad ads in 2025

The tighter permissions management in Android 17 is a big deal for privacy advocates, because overly broad access is how data brokers build detailed profiles about you.

Those profiles can then be used for aggressive or invasive advertising, including scams.

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Google timed these privacy announcements alongside its latest Ad Safety report, which says it blocked 8.3 billion policy-violating ads and suspended 24.9 million advertiser accounts in the last year. 

The 8.3 billion figure is up from 2024, when Google blocked 5.1 billion ads. The increase suggests that the problem is getting worse, or that Google is getting better at catching it. Scam ads are a big part of that. In 2024, Google blocked 415 million scam-related ads. In 2025, that number grew to 602 million. 

Lest we forget

We’ll give Google credit for trying to tackle this problem from both ends—limiting data collection and cracking down on the kinds of ads that use that data maliciously. But there’s still a sense that it’s not doing quite enough.

Yes, the Android 17 permission changes are good for users, but granular contact access should have been the default years ago. Apple has been doing it for 18 months in iOS 18, and even that was years too late, in our opinion.

And while Google says it caught over 99% of violations before users ever saw them, 1% of an insanely large number is still insanely large.

The ads that still get through are damaging. In December, we reported on sponsored search results pointing to malicious AI chats that instructed people to install infostealer malware. Why does Google run ads that look like search results? Because its business model is driven by advertising revenue. At least it’s making it easier to hide them now.

So we’ll give a cautious hand clap to Google. It’s moving in the right direction. But stories about how it knowingly giving kids’ data inappropriately to advertisers or misusing health data still give us pause.

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Scammers know more about you than you think. 

Malwarebytes Mobile Security protects you from phishing, scam texts, malicious sites, and more. With real-time AI-powered Scam Guard built right in. 

Download for iOS → Download for Android → 

Google has announced the introduction of Advanced Flow, designed to let Android users install apps from unverified developers more safely than before.

This process is known as sideloading. It means installing an app on your device from somewhere other than the Google Play store, usually by downloading and opening its installation file yourself.​

Right now, that typically involves:

• Downloading an app file (an APK on Android) from a website, email, or another source instead of Google Play.​
• Manually installing it, often after turning on a setting that allows apps from “unknown” or “unverified” developers.

From Google’s point of view, this has been a security weak spot. Scammers regularly abuse sideloading to trick victims into installing malware while bypassing built‑in protections.

They often pressure victims into installing apps that turn out to be infostealers or other malware. According to research by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), scams caused an estimated $442 billion in losses last year.

So anything that helps reduce that risk is welcome.

What Google is changing isn’t dramatic, but it does make the process of installing an app from outside the official Play Store more secure. In simple terms, Advanced Flow adds extra steps and delays so scammers can’t rush people into disabling protections and installing their malware.

How Advanced Flow works

To sideload apps using Advanced Flow, users will need to go through a series of steps:

• Enable developer mode in system settings. This is easy enough, and helps prevent accidental or one-tap bypasses often used in high-pressure scams.
• Complete a quick safety check to make sure that no one is talking you into turning off your security. Scammers often pressure victims into disabling protections.
• Restart your device, which cuts off any remote access or active phone calls a scammer might be using to guide you.
• Wait one day, then you can confirm the change using biometrics (like fingerprint or face unlock) or your device PIN. This one-time, one-day delay breaks the urgency scammers rely on, giving you time to think.

Once you’ve confirmed you understand the risks, you’re all set to install apps from unverified developers. You can allow this for seven days or indefinitely. For safety, you’ll still see a warning that the app is from an unverified developer, but you can just tap “Install Anyway.”

In addition to the Advanced Flow, Google is introducing free, limited distribution accounts for students and hobbyists. These let developers share apps with a small group (up to 20 devices) without needing ID verification or a registration fee. 

What this means for users

So after these changes, these will be the options for users that have “developer mode” enabled on their Android device.

• Sideloading directly from verified developers
• Sideloading from developers with limited distribution accounts
• Sideloading from unverified developers with Advanced Flow

Advanced Flow is expected to roll out in August 2026.

Overall, it seems a reasonable compromise. Sideloading isn’t going away, so this keeps that ability but adds meaningful barriers against scam‑driven installs, thwarting social‑engineering campaigns without outright killing power‑user workflows. The one-day delay could turn out to be frustrating though, even if it’s only a one-time event.

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We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.

Researchers at Google have identified an iOS exploit chain, named DarkSword, that has been used since late last year by multiple actors to infect iPhones with malware in targeted attacks.

DarkSword combines six vulnerabilities in iOS and Safari to deploy malware on the device. It demonstrates, once again, how important it is to keep up with updates.

The exploit works against iPhones running iOS versions 18.4 through 18.7, and simply visiting a malicious or compromised website with a vulnerable device can be enough to get infected (a drive‑by attack).

The researchers found that several groups are using the tool to attack their preferred targets. DarkSword has been used both by commercial spyware vendors and by state‑backed actors, with campaigns observed in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, and Ukraine.

In Saudi Arabia, attackers used a fake Snapchat lookalike. In Ukraine, attackers compromised at least two Ukrainian websites, including a government site.

Upon successful exploitation, malware is executed on the device. The type of malware depends on the attacker. In the Ukrainian campaign, that malware is known as Ghostblade, one example of a payload delivered via the DarkSword exploit chain.

Ghostblade is a JavaScript‑based data‑stealer that exfiltrates unique device identifiers, SMS and iMessage messages, call history, contacts, Wi‑Fi configuration and passwords, Safari cookies and browsing history, location data, notes, calendar entries, health data, photos, iCloud Drive files, SIM information, emails, a list of installed apps, saved passwords, and the message history from Telegram and WhatsApp.

Beyond this, Ghostblade stands out because it also targets cryptocurrency‑related data, actively seeking apps for major exchanges (Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, Kucoin, OKX, Mexc) and wallet apps (Ledger, Trezor, Metamask, Exodus, Uniswap, Phantom, Gnosis Safe). Researchers note that Ghostblade is not built for long‑term surveillance: once it has collected the data, it deletes its temporary files and terminates itself.

The risks

Vulnerable devices can be infected just by visiting that one malicious or compromised website. And the consequences can be severe. DarkSword turns a single website visit into full device compromise, followed by Ghostblade exfiltrating as much data as it can in one go.

• Data theft: Ghostblade and related payloads can grab communications (SMS, iMessage, Telegram, WhatsApp, email), photos, health data, location history, Wi‑Fi credentials, keychain items, and more in one sweep.

• Crypto theft and profiling: The malware enumerates specific exchange and wallet apps, which allows both direct theft and lets criminals use the stolen information to build a detailed profile of financially interesting targets.

• Forensic evasion: Because Ghostblade wipes its own traces after stealing all that information, it can take a long time before victims figure out something is wrong. Many victims may never know they were compromised.

Since the same exploit kit is being reused across commercial surveillance firms and state‑aligned actors, the number of campaigns and victims will increase over time.

The solutions

Update to the latest iOS available for your device. DarkSword can affect iOS versions 18.4 through 18.7, and Apple’s recent releases include fixes for CVE‑2026‑20700 and related vulnerabilities.

If you have reason to believe you’re a potential target for attacks of this nature (journalists, activists, or people that have access to sensitive data) it is advisable to enable Lockdown Mode:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down, tap Lockdown Mode, then tap Turn On Lockdown Mode.
4. Read the presented information and tap Turn On Lockdown Mode.
5. Tap Turn On & Restart.
6. Enter your device passcode when prompted.

Do inform yourself about the consequences of turning on Lockdown Mode. It makes your device a lot less user-friendly, but it has proven effective against highly targeted attacks.

Here are some more general tips:

• Use up-to-date, real-time anti-malware protection for your device to block malicious websites where possible.
• Avoid following links sent in unsolicited messages, especially for services like Snapchat, crypto exchanges, banking, or email.
• Use content blockers (for example Malwarebytes Browser Guard) in Safari to reduce exposure to malicious content (though they are not a silver bullet for zero‑days).
• Move high‑value crypto assets to hardware wallets or dedicated devices, and use mobile wallets only for smaller amounts.
• Use a password manager with strong authentication, and turn on extra security settings like Face ID/Touch ID and avoid auto‑filling high‑risk credentials.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (FIDO2 security keys or app‑based 2FA) on exchanges and financial accounts, so stolen passwords alone are not enough to plunder your accounts.
• Regularly review app permissions and revoke access to sensitive data (Location, Photos, Contacts, Microphone, Camera, Health) revoke where unnecessary.

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We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.

Google just dropped a bombshell for app developers with the latest version of its Android mobile operating system. The company can now prevent apps from installing if they try to use the system’s accessibility features.

The new development, live in version 17.2 of Android, is all about security, explains the company. It stops certain kinds of apps from using the accessibility service if Advanced Protection Mode (APM) is enabled.

The accessibility API lets app developers support users living with disabilities who need extra help using their phones. Apps can use this API to access the screen in unique ways, control input for the user, and use voice services, for example.

Sadly, as with most useful tools, someone will always find a way to misuse it and ruin it for everyone else. Malware developers have been using this API for years as a way into your bank account. The accessibility service has a lot of power: Any app with permissions to use it can read what’s on your screen.

Many Android banking Trojans are little more than accessibility API wrappers with criminal intent. They steal 2FA codes, impersonate victims, and drain accounts while victims sleep.

Two tricks dominate. The first is fake overlays. The accessibility API lets you put overlays on top of another app’s screen. Banking and cryptocurrency Trojan developers can use this to capture your keystrokes (you think you’re just logging into your banking app, but malware is collecting everything you type).

The second is permission abuse. Once the Trojan has your passwords, it can authorize its own transactions.

The number of malware frameworks taking advantage of the accessibility API has grown. DroidLock uses it to steal your personal data before demanding a ransom. Albiriox uses it to install itself and give remote control to attackers halfway around the world.

We saw both in December, and just last month Malwarebytes researcher Stefan Dasic noticed an accessibility service-abusing malware program posing as a fake Google Security page.

Google’s nuclear option

Google has tried before to curb misuse of the API. In 2017, it warned developers to justify their use of accessibility features or risk removal from the Play Store. Developers revolted, and Google relented. But then, in November 2021, it began demanding permission forms for accessibility API usage for Android 12+ apps.

Now the company is getting tougher still, enforcing stricter accessibility API rules. Apps can no longer freely enable accessibility services using a simple software flag. Instead, only apps whose core purpose is accessibility will be allowed to use it.

Google’s examples include screen readers, switch inputs, voice controls, and Braille displays. With these new rules, password managers or automation apps aren’t getting to the accessibility API anymore.

At least, not if the user has APM turned on.

Launched in May last year, APM is Google’s version of Apple’s Lockdown Mode. It introduces far tighter security controls for people who switch it on, making it harder for malware to exploit them.

The trade-off for that extra security is more limited functionality. For example, only apps from trusted sources will install, and data transfer via USB is restricted. Accessibility API access is now restricted too.

So now, you can be a password manager or an accessibility tool, but not both. Developers relying on accessibility for convenience features will need to find another way.

This is Google acknowledging that some APIs are too dangerous to leave open, even if some legitimate apps suffer. The company is betting that most users care more about not getting robbed than having their password manager use the accessibility API for convenience.

Malware authors will adapt, as always. But for now, Google just made phones with APM turned on a lot harder to mess with.

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We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.

Google has patched 129 vulnerabilities in Android in its March 2026 Android Security Bulletin, including a Qualcomm display flaw that is known to be actively exploited.

You can check your device’s Android version, security update level, and Google Play system update in Settings. You should get a notification when updates are available, but you can also check for them yourself.

On most phones, go to Settings > About phone (or About device), then tap Software updates to see if anything new is available. The exact steps may vary slightly depending on the brand and Android version you’re on.

If your Android phone shows a patch level of 2026-03-05 or later, these issues are fixed.

Keeping your device up to date protects you from known vulnerabilities and helps you stay safe. We know that because of patch gaps and end-of-support cycles, some users may not receive these updates. That’s why additional protection for your Android device is important.

Technical details

The Android zero-day, tracked as CVE-2026-21385, is a high‑severity bug in a Qualcomm graphics/display component that attackers are already exploiting in limited, targeted attacks.

The vulnerability lives in an open‑source Qualcomm graphics/display component used by a large number of Android chipsets, with Qualcomm listing that well over 230 different chipset models are affected. Based on recently published Android and chipset market‑share percentages, it is reasonable to assume the issue affects hundreds of millions of devices worldwide, even if the exact number is hard to pin down.

On most Android phones, you can view the processor model in Settings > About phone (or About device) > Detailed info and specs, and look for entries such as “Processor,” “Chipset,” or “SoC.” Names like “Snapdragon 8 Gen 2,” “Snapdragon 778G,” or “Qualcomm SM8xxx/SM7xxx,” indicate a Qualcomm chipset and that the device may be in the affected family.

Google says there are signs that CVE‑2026‑21385 is already being used in “limited, targeted exploitation,” which usually means a small number of high‑value targets rather than broad, drive‑by attacks on the general public. Current descriptions point to a memory corruption scenario in the graphics component. The official description says:

“Memory corruption while using alignments for memory allocation.”

This means that if an attacker can get a malicious app or local code onto the device, they can feed specially crafted data into the graphics component’s driver and corrupt memory in a controlled way. In practice, a bug like this is a good candidate for turning a normal app’s limited access into something much more powerful, like using it as a building block in a chain of exploits to escalate privileges or to escape a sandbox.

As you can see, the attacker needs some kind of local foothold first, such as getting you to install a malicious app, exploiting another vulnerability, or abusing a compromised app already on the device. 

How to stay safe

From the available information, attackers would need to trick a user into installing a malicious app that could then compromise the device. That’s why it’s a good idea to follow these safety precautions:

• Only install apps from official app stores whenever possible and avoid installing apps promoted in links in SMS, email, or messaging apps.
• Before installing finance‑related or retailer apps, verify the developer’s name, number of downloads, and user reviews rather than trusting a single promotional link.
• Protect your devices. Use an up-to-date, real-time anti-malware solution like Malwarebytes for Android.
• Scrutinize permissions. Does an app really need the permissions it’s requesting to do the job you want it to do? Especially if it asks for accessibility, SMS, or camera access.
• Keep Android, Google Play services, and all other important apps up to date so you get the latest security fixes.

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We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.

Most iPhone owners have hopefully learned to manage app permissions by now, including allowing location access. But there’s another layer of location tracking that operates outside these controls. Your cellular carrier has been collecting your location data all along, and until now, there was nothing you could do about it.

Apple just changed this in iOS 26.3 with a new setting called “limit precise location.”

How Apple’s anti-carrier tracking system works

Cellular networks track your phone’s location based on the cell towers it connects to, in a process known as triangulation. In cities where towers are densely packed, triangulation is precise enough to track you down to a street address.

This tracking is different from app-based location monitoring, because your phone’s privacy settings have historically been powerless to stop it. Toggle Location Services off entirely, and your carrier still knows where you are.

The new setting reduces the precision of location data shared with carriers. Rather than a street address, carriers would see only the neighborhood where a device is located. It doesn’t affect emergency calls, though, which still transmit precise coordinates to first responders. Apps like Apple’s “Find My” service, which locates your devices, or its navigation services, aren’t affected because they work using the phone’s location sharing feature.

Why is Apple doing this? Apple hasn’t said, but the move comes after years of carriers mishandling location data.

Unfortunately, cellular network operators have played fast and free with this data. In April 2024, the FCC fined Sprint and T-Mobile (which have since merged), along with AT&T and Verizon nearly $200 million combined for illegally sharing this location data. They sold access to customers’ location information to third party aggregators, who then sold it on to third parties without customer consent.

This turned into a privacy horror story for customers. One aggregator, LocationSmart, had a free demo on its website that reportedly allowed anyone to pinpoint the location of most mobile phones in North America.

Limited rollout

The feature only works with devices equipped with Apple’s custom C1 or C1X modems. That means just three devices: the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and the cellular iPad Pro with M5 chip. The iPhone 17, which uses Qualcomm silicon, is excluded. Apple can only control what its own modems transmit.

Carrier support is equally narrow. In the US, only Boost Mobile is participating in the feature at launch, while Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are notable absences from the list given their past record. In Germany, Telekom is on the participant list, while both EE and BT are involved in the UK. In Thailand, AIS and True are on the list. There are no other carriers taking part as of today though.

Android also offers some support

Google also introduced a similar capability with Android 15’s Location Privacy hardware abstraction layer (HAL) last year. It faces the same constraint, though: modem vendors must cooperate, and most have not. Apple and Google don’t get to control the modems in most phones. This kind of privacy protection requires vertical integration that few manufacturers possess and few carriers seem eager to enable.

Most people think controlling app permissions means they’re in control of their location. This feature highlights something many users didn’t know existed: a separate layer of tracking handled by cellular networks, and one that still offers users very limited control.

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We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.

WhatsApp is quietly rolling out a new safety layer for photos, videos, and documents, and it lives entirely under the hood. It won’t change how you chat, but it will change what happens to the files that move through your chats—especially the kind that can hide malware.

The new feature, called Strict Account Settings, is rolling out gradually over the coming weeks. To see whether you have the option—and to enable it—go to Settings > Privacy > Advanced.

Yesterday, we wrote about a WhatsApp bug on Android that made headlines because a malicious media file in a group chat could be downloaded and used as an attack vector without you tapping anything. You only had to be added to a new group to be exposed to the booby-trapped file. That issue highlighted something security folks have worried about for years: media files are a great vehicle for attacks, and they do not always exploit WhatsApp itself, but bugs in the operating system or its media libraries.

In Meta’s explanation of the new technology, it points back to the 2015 Stagefright Android vulnerability, where simply processing a malicious video could compromise a device. Back then, WhatsApp worked around the issue by teaching its media library to spot broken MP4 files that could trigger those OS bugs, buying users protection even if their phones were not fully patched.

What’s new is that WhatsApp has now rebuilt its core media-handling library in Rust, a memory-safe programming language. This helps eliminate several types of memory bugs that often lead to serious security problems. In the process, it replaced about 160,000 lines of older C++ code with roughly 90,000 lines of Rust, and rolled the new library out to billions of devices across Android, iOS, desktop apps, wearables, and the web.

On top of that, WhatsApp has bundled a series of checks into an internal system it calls “Kaleidoscope.” This system inspects incoming files for structural oddities, flags higher‑risk formats like PDFs with embedded content or scripts, detects when a file pretends to be something it’s not (for example, a renamed executable), and marks known dangerous file types for special handling in the app. It won’t catch every attack, but it should prevent malicious files from poking at more fragile parts of your device.

For everyday users, the Rust rebuilt and Kaleidoscope checks are good news. They add a strong, invisible safety net around photos, videos and other files you receive, including in group chats where the recent bug could be abused. They also line up neatly with our earlier advice to turn off automatic media downloads or use Advanced Privacy Mode, which limits how far a malicious file can travel on your device even if it lands in WhatsApp.

WhatsApp is the latest platform to roll out enhanced protections for users: Apple introduced Lockdown Mode in 2022, and Android followed with Advanced Protection Mode last year. WhatsApp’s new Strict Account Settings takes a similar high-level approach, applying more restrictive defaults within the app, including blocking attachments and media from unknown senders.

However, this is no reason to rush back to WhatsApp, or to treat these changes as a guarantee of safety. At the very least, Meta is showing that it is willing to invest in making WhatsApp more secure.

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We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.

WhatsApp is going through a rough patch. Some users would argue it has been ever since Meta acquired the once widely trusted messaging platform. User sentiment has shifted from “trusted default messenger” to a grudgingly necessary Meta product.

Privacy-aware users still see WhatsApp as one of the more secure mass-market messaging platforms if you lock down its settings. Even then, many remain uneasy about Meta’s broader ecosystem, and wish all their contacts would switch to a more secure platform.

Back to current affairs, which will only reinforce that sentiment.

Google’s Project Zero has just disclosed a WhatsApp vulnerability where a malicious media file, sent into a newly created group chat, can be automatically downloaded and used as an attack vector.

The bug affects WhatsApp on Android and involves zero‑click media downloads in group chats. You can be attacked simply by being added to a group and having a malicious file sent to you.

According to Project Zero, the attack is most likely to be used in targeted campaigns, since the attacker needs to know or guess at least one contact. While focused, it is relatively easy to repeat once an attacker has a likely target list.

And to put a cherry on top for WhatsApp’s competitors, a potentially even more serious concern for the popular messaging platform, an international group of plaintiffs sued Meta Platforms, alleging the WhatsApp owner can store, analyze, and access virtually all of users’ private communications, despite WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption claims.

How to secure WhatsApp

Reportedly, Meta pushed a server change on November 11, 2025, but Google says that only partially resolved the issue. So, Meta is working on a comprehensive fix.

Google’s advice is to disable Automatic Download or enable WhatsApp’s Advanced Privacy Mode so that media is not automatically downloaded to your phone.

And you’ll need to keep WhatsApp updated to get the latest patches, which is true for any app and for Android itself.

Turn off auto-download of media

Goal: ensure that no photos, videos, audio, or documents are pulled to the device without an explicit decision.

• Open WhatsApp on your Android device.
• Tap the three‑dot menu in the top‑right corner, then tap Settings.
• Go to Storage and data (sometimes labeled Data and storage usage).
• Under Media auto-download, you will see When using mobile data, when connected on Wi‑Fi. and when roaming.
• For each of these three entries, tap it and uncheck all media types: Photos, Audio, Videos, Documents. Then tap OK.
• Confirm that each category now shows something like “No media” under it.

Doing this directly implements Project Zero’s guidance to “disable Automatic Download” so that malicious media can’t silently land on your storage as soon as you are dropped into a hostile group.

Stop WhatsApp from saving media to your Android gallery

Even if WhatsApp still downloads some content, you can stop it from leaking into shared storage where other apps and system components see it.

• In Settings, go to Chats.
• Turn off Media visibility (or similar option such as Show media in gallery). For particularly sensitive chats, open the chat, tap the contact or group name, find Media visibility, and set it to No for that thread.

WhatsApp is a sandbox, and should contain the threat. Which means, keeping media inside WhatsApp makes it harder for a malicious file to be processed by other, possibly more vulnerable components.

Lock down who can add you to groups

The attack chain requires the attacker to add you and one of your contacts to a new group. Reducing who can do that lowers risk.

• ​In Settings, tap Privacy.
• Tap Groups.
• Change from Everyone to My contacts or ideally My contacts except… and exclude any numbers you do not fully trust.
• If you use WhatsApp for work, consider keeping group membership strictly to known contacts and approved admins.

Set up two-step verification on your WhatsApp account

Read this guide for Android and iOS to learn how to do that.

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We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.

WhisperPair is a set of attacks that lets an attacker hijack many popular Bluetooth audio accessories that use Google Fast Pair and, in some cases, even track their location via Google’s Find Hub network—all without requiring any user interaction.

Researchers at the Belgian University of Leuven revealed a collection of vulnerabilities they found in audio accessories that use Google’s Fast Pair protocol. The affected accessories are sold by 10 different companies: Sony, Jabra, JBL, Marshall, Xiaomi, Nothing, OnePlus, Soundcore, Logitech, and Google itself.

Google Fast Pair is a feature that makes pairing Bluetooth earbuds, headphones and similar accessories with Android devices quick and seamless, and syncs them across a user’s Google account.

The Google Fast Pair Service (GFPS) utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to discover nearby Bluetooth devices. Many big-name audio brands use Fast Pair in their flagship products, so the potential attack surface consists of hundreds of millions of devices.

The weakness lies in the fact that Fast Pair skips checking whether a device is in pairing mode. As a result, a device controlled by an attacker, such as a laptop, can trigger Fast Pair even when the earbuds are sitting in a user’s ear or pocket, then quickly complete a normal Bluetooth pairing and take full control.

What that control enables depends on the capabilities of the hijacked device. This can range from playing disturbing noises to recording audio via built-in microphones.

It gets worse if the attacker is the first to pair the accessory with an Android device. In that case, the attacker’s Owner Account Key–designating their Google account as the legitimate owner’s—to the accessory. If the Fast Pair accessory also supports Google’s Find Hub network, which many people use to locate lost items, the attacker may then be able to track the accessory’s location.

Google classified this vulnerability, tracked under CVE‑2025‑36911, as critical. However, the only real fix is a firmware or software update from the accessory manufacturer, so users need to check with their specific brand and install accessory updates, as updating the phone alone does not fix the issue.

How to stay safe

To find out whether your device is vulnerable, the researchers published a list and recommend keeping all accessories updated. The research team tested 25 commercial devices from 16 manufacturers using 17 different Bluetooth chipsets. They were able to take over the connection and eavesdrop on the microphone on 68% of the tested devices.​

These are the devices the researchers found to be vulnerable, but it’s possible that others are affected as well:

• Anker soundcore Liberty 4 NC
• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2​
• JBL TUNE BEAM​
• Jabra Elite 8 Active​
• Marshall MOTIF II A.N.C.​
• Nothing Ear (a)​
• OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro​
• Sony WF-1000XM5​
• Sony WH-1000XM4​
• Sony WH-1000XM5​
• Sony WH-1000XM6​
• Sony WH-CH720N​
• Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro​

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We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.

If you were still questioning whether iOS 26+ is for you, now is the time to make that call.

Why?

On December 12, 2025, Apple patched two WebKit zero‑day vulnerabilities linked to mercenary spyware and is now effectively pushing iPhone 11 and newer users toward iOS 26+, because that’s where the fixes and new memory protections live. These vulnerabilities were primarily used in highly targeted attacks, but such campaigns are likely to expand over time.

WebKit powers the Safari browser and many other iOS applications, so it’s a big attack surface to leave exposed and isn’t limited to “risky” behavior. These vulnerabilities allowed an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a device after exploitation via malicious web content.

Apple has confirmed that attackers are already exploiting these vulnerabilities in the wild, making installation of the update a high‑priority security task for every user. Campaigns that start with diplomats, journalists, or executives often lead to tooling and exploits leaking or being repurposed, so “I’m not a target” is not a viable safety strategy.​

Due to public resistance to new features like Liquid Glass, many iPhone users have not yet upgraded to iOS 26.2. Reports suggest adoption of iOS 26 has been unusually slow. As of January 2026, only about 4.6% of active iPhones are on iOS 26.2, and roughly 16% are on any version of iOS 26, leaving the vast majority on older releases such as iOS 18.

However, Apple only ships these fixes and newer protections, such as Memory Integrity Enforcement, on iOS 26+ for supported devices. Users on older, unsupported devices won’t be able to access these protections at all.

Another important factor in the upgrade cycle is restarting the device. What many people don’t realize is that when you restart your device, any memory-resident malware is flushed—unless it has somehow gained persistence, in which case it will return. High-end spyware tools tend to avoid leaving traces needed for persistence and often rely on users not restarting their devices.

Upgrading requires a restart, which makes this a win-win: you get the latest protections, and any memory-resident malware is flushed at the same time.

For iOS and iPadOS users, you can check if you’re using the latest software version, go to Settings > General > Software Update. It’s also worth turning on Automatic Updates if you haven’t already. You can do that on the same screen.

How to stay safe

The most important fix—however painful you may find it—is to upgrade to iOS 26.2. Not doing means missing an accumulating list of security fixes, leaving your device vulnerable to more and more newly found vulnerabilities.

 But here are some other useful tips:

• Make it a habit to restart your device on a regular basis. The NSA recommends doing this weekly.
• Do not open unsolicited links and attachments without verifying with the trusted sender.
• Remember, Apple threat notifications will never ask users to click links, open files, install apps or ask for account passwords or verification code.
• For Apple Mail users specifically, these vulnerabilities create risk when viewing HTML-formatted emails containing malicious web content.
• Malwarebytes for iOS can help keep your device secure, with Trusted Advisor alerting you when important updates are available.
• If you are a high-value target, or you want the extra level of security, consider using Apple’s Lockdown Mode.

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We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.

Reportedly, pcTattletale founder Bryan Fleming has pleaded guilty in US federal court to computer hacking, unlawfully selling and advertising spyware, and conspiracy.

This is good news not just because we despise stalkerware like pcTattletale, but because it is only the second US federal stalkerware prosecution in a decade. It could could open the door to further cases against people who develop, sell, or promote similar tools.

In 2021, we reported that “employee and child-monitoring” software vendor pcTattletale had not been very careful about securing the screenshots it secretly captured from victims’ phones. A security researcher testing a trial version discovered that the app uploaded screenshots to an unsecured online database, meaning anyone could view them without authentication, such as a username and password.

In 2024, we revisited the app after researchers found it was once again leaking a database containing victim screenshots. One researcher discovered that pcTattletale’s Application Programming Interface (API) allowed anyone to access the most recent screen capture recorded from any device on which the spyware is installed. Another researcher uncovered a separate vulnerability that granted full access to the app’s backend infrastructure. That access allowed them to deface the website and steal AWS credentials, which turned out to be shared across all devices. As a result, the researcher obtained data about both victims and the customers who were doing the tracking.

This is no longer possible. Not because the developers fixed the problems, but because Amazon locked pcTattletale’s entire AWS infrastructure. Fleming later abandoned the product and deleted the contents of its servers.

However, Homeland Security Investigations had already started investigating pcTattletale in June 2021 and did not stop. A few things made Fleming stand out among other stalkerware operators. While many hide behind overseas shell companies, Fleming appeared to be proud of his work. And while others market their products as parental control or employee monitoring tools, pcTattletale explicitly promoted spying on romantic partners and spouses, using phrases such as “catch a cheater” and “surreptitiously spying on spouses and partners.” This made it clear the software was designed for non-consensual surveillance of adults.

Fleming is expected to be sentenced later this year.

Removing stalkerware

Malwarebytes, as one of the founding members of the Coalition Against Stalkerware, makes it a priority to detect and remove stalkerware-type apps from your device.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that removing stalkerware may alert the person spying on you that the app has been discovered. The Coalition Against Stalkerware outlines additional steps and considerations to help you decide the safest next move.

Because the apps often install under different names and hide themselves from users, they can be difficult to find and remove. That is where Malwarebytes can help you.

To scan your device:

1. Open your Malwarebytes dashboard
2. Start a Scan

The scan may take a few minutes.

 If malware is detected, you can choose one of the following actions:

• Uninstall. The threat will be deleted from your device.
• Ignore Always. The file detection will be added to the Allow List, and excluded from future scans. Legitimate files are sometimes detected as malware. We recommend reviewing scan results and adding files to Ignore Always that you know are safe and want to keep.
• Ignore Once: The detection is ignored for this scan only. It will be detected again during your next scan.

Malwarebytes detects pcTattleTale as PUP.Optional.PCTattletale.

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We don’t just report on threats—we remove them

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your devices by downloading Malwarebytes today.

Executive Summary The OPCOPRO “Truman Show” operation is a fully synthetic, AI‑powered investment scam that uses legitimate Android and iOS apps from the official mobile app stores, and AI‑generated communities to steal money and identity data from victims. Instead of relying on malicious code, the attackers use social engineering. The attackers pull victims using phishing SMS/ads/Telegram into tightly-controlled WhatsApp and Telegram groups, where AI‑generated “experts” and synthetic peers simulate an institutional‑grade trading community for weeks before any money or personal details are requested. The mobile apps themselves contain no trading logic and act only as WebView shells connected to attacker‑controlled […]

The post The Truman Show Scam: Trapped in an AI-Generated Reality appeared first on Check Point Blog.

This blog is part of a series highlighting new and concerning trends we noticed over the last year. Trends matter because they almost always provide a good indication of what’s coming next.

If there’s one thing that became very clear in 2025, it’s that malware is no longer focused on Windows alone. We’ve seen some major developments, especially in campaigns targeting Android and macOS. Unfortunately, many people still don’t realize that protecting smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices is just as essential as securing their laptops.

Android

Banking Trojans on Android are not new, but their level of sophistication continues to rise. These threats continue to be a major problem in 2025, often disguising themselves as fake apps to steal credentials or stealthily take over devices. A recent wave of advanced banking Trojans, such as Herodotus, can mimic human typing behaviors to evade detection, highlighting just how refined these attacks have become. Android malware also includes adware that aggressively pushes intrusive ads through free apps, degrading both the user experience and overall security.

Several Trojans were found to use overlays, which are fake login screens appearing on top of real banking and cryptocurrency apps. They can read what’s on the screen, so when someone enters their username and password, the malware steals them.

macOS

One of the most notable developments for Mac users was the expansion of the notorious ClickFix campaign to macOS. Early in 2025, I described how criminals used fake CAPTCHA sites and a clipboard hijacker to provide instructions that led visitors ro infect their own machines with the Lumma infostealer.

ClickFix is the name researchers have since given to this type of campaign, where users are tricked into running malicious commands themselves. On macOS, this technique is being used to distribute both AMOS stealers and the Rhadamanthys infostealer.

Cross-platform

Malware developers increasingly use cross-platform languages such as Rust and Go to create malware that can run on Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile, and even Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This enables flexible targeting and expands the number of potential victims. Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) models are on the rise, offering these tools for rent or purchase on underground markets, further professionalizing malware development and distribution.

Social engineering

iPhone users have been found to be more prone to scams and less conscious about mobile security than Android owners. That brings us to the first line of defense, which has nothing to do with the device or operating system you use: education.

Social engineering exploits human behavior, and knowing what to look out for makes you far less likely to fall for a scam.

Fake apps that turn out to be malware, malicious apps in the Play Store, sextortion, and costly romance scams all prey on basic human emotions. They either go straight for the money or deliver Trojan droppers as the first step toward infecting a device.

We’ve also seen consistent growth in Remote Access Trojan (RAT) activity, often used as an initial infection method. There’s also been a rise in finance-focused attacks, including cryptocurrency and banking-related targets, alongside widespread stealer malware driving data breaches.

What does this mean for 2026?

Taken together, these trends point to a clear shift. Cybercriminals are increasingly focusing on operating systems beyond Windows, combining advanced techniques and social engineering tailored specifically to mobile and macOS.

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We don’t just report on threats—we remove them

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your devices by downloading Malwarebytes today.

This is a foolproof guide to intercepting traffic from mobile applications built on Flutter, which historically have been especially challenging to intercept.

The post Intercepting Traffic for Mobile Applications that Bypass the System Proxy appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..