Cybersecurity experts recommend maintaining up-to-date security software, avoiding unofficial app sources, carefully reviewing requested permissions, and remaining vigilant about unsolicited messages containing links or download instructions to minimize exposure to these evolving mobile threats. The cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky documented the discovery of 1.1 million malicious and potentially unwanted installation packages during the year, with nearly 69,000 of these being associated specifically with mobile banking Trojans. Kaspersky Security Network notes that various other messaging app modifications harboring similar malicious code—including Triada.fd, Triada.gs, Triada.gn, and Triada.gm—also featured prominently in the year’s threat rankings. This alarming figure translates to an average of 2.8 million attempted attacks per month, highlighting the persistent and evolving threat landscape facing mobile device users worldwide. Despite a slight decrease in unique malware installation packages compared to previous years, the overall threat landscape appears to be plateauing rather than declining significantly, suggesting cybercriminals are refining their tactics rather than abandoning them. The technical implementation of these banking Trojans often involves permissions abuse, with the malware requesting SMS access privileges (android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS) to intercept authentication codes. The Mamont banking Trojan family emerged as a particularly significant threat in 2024, ranking fourth in the overall mobile threat landscape. Turkish users faced numerous variants of Piom Trojans associated with GodFather and BrowBot banker campaigns, while Indian users contended primarily with Rewardsteal bankers and SmsThief SMS-intercepting malware. A staggering 33.3 million attacks involving malware, adware, and unwanted mobile software were prevented throughout 2024. Cybersecurity researchers uncovered a new distribution scheme for this malware targeting Android users in Russia, where attackers enticed victims with discounted products. After users initiated contact to place orders, they would later receive phishing links to download malware disguised as shipping tracking applications. The research indicates that adware remains the most prevalent mobile threat, accounting for approximately 35% of all detected malicious activities. The malicious code uses a combination of social engineering and technical exploitation to gain access to banking credentials and financial accounts. With years of experience under his belt in Cyber Security, he is covering Cyber Security News, technology and other news. Third-party WhatsApp mods containing Triada.ga ranked third in prevalence among all mobile threats detected. The report also shows the region-specific threats, with Turkey and India experiencing the highest concentration of banking malware. Cyber Security News is a Dedicated News Platform For Cyber News, Cyber Attack News, Hacking News & Vulnerability Analysis.
This Cyber News was published on cybersecuritynews.com. Publication date: Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:03 +0000