Study Uncovers Significant Risk of Android Malware Evading Antivirus Detection

Zimperium, a mobile security firm, has discovered a troubling pattern in Android malware, as revealed in a recent study. These harmful applications are employing a clever technique to evade detection by antivirus software, posing a significant threat to your phone’s security and potentially enabling data theft.

Hackers are always trying to find ways to get their malicious apps onto your phone, and the latest trick they’re using involves Android malware that can hide from even the best antivirus apps. According to a Tom’s Guide report, this malware uses a new technique to evade detection by security systems.

The role of APKs in the attack

This discovery comes from Zimperium, a company that focuses on finding and removing malware from the Google Play store where you download apps for Android phones. To better understand this issue, you need to know about APKs. The full form of APK is Android Package Kit, and it means packages that contain the apps you download from the Google Play Store. It includes an application called Android for Google’s mobile operating system.

When hackers hijack these files, they resist antivirus scanning because they use tricky methods to hide their true intentions. This is a new method and antivirus programs and cyber security experts are still learning about it. So these malware apps can pretend to be regular apps and slip past your phone’s protection.

A widespread threat

According to Zimperium’s report, they found 3,300 suspicious APKs in the wild. Shockingly, 71 of them can infect phones with Android OS version 9 or higher.

Zimperium began investigating this issue after another security company, Joe Security, discovered a similar APK that was able to evade malware analysis and still run smoothly on Android, accomplishing malicious purposes for hackers.

Worryingly, these 3,300 APKs were probably not found in the official Google Play Store. They are likely to spread in other ways, such as third-party app stores or side-loading by smartphone users themselves.

Risk of side loading

Sideloading means installing apps from sources other than official app stores. While that can be useful, it’s also a way for bad actors to sneak malware onto your phone.

The good news is that if you only download apps from the Play Store or other trusted app stores, you’re unlikely to encounter this type of malware. Yes, there are even apps in the Play Store that contain these malicious codes. It’s important to be careful because hackers are always looking for new ways to damage your device.

Stay safe from malicious apps

To stay safe from malicious Android apps, remember not to download apps from the site unless you absolutely have to. Stick to official app stores like Play Store. Even then, do your research before installing a new app. Check the reviews and the developer of the app to make sure it is safe. Even check the language for grammatical errors.

Your phone’s security is crucial, so always be vigilant when downloading apps to protect yourself from these deceptive threats.