We place a lot of trust in our mobile experience, given they’re one of the most constant companions we have. Huge reams of data, tied to a device we always carry with us, with said device frequently offering additional built-in app functionality. An astonishing wealth of information, for anyone bold enough to try and take it. Security firm Cybereason uncovered an astonishing attack dubbed … [Read more...]
July 12, 2019
June 24, 2019
Mobile stalkerware: a long history of detection
Recently, we have received an alarming question from many Malwarebytes users, asking, “Do you detect stalkerware?” The answer is an overwhelming, “Absolutely, and for good reason!” Moreover, we have been doing so for a long time, and are expanding our efforts in the months to come. Going back more than five years, Malwarebytes researchers have detected applications and software that monitor … [Read more...]
May 14, 2019
WhatsApp fix goes live after targeted attack on human rights lawyer
If you use WhatsApp, you’ll want to update both app and device as soon as possible due to a freshly-discovered exploit. The vulnerability was found in Google Android, Apple iOS, and Microsoft Windows Phone builds of the app. Unlike many mobile attacks, potential victims aren’t required to install or click on anything—they may not even be aware something malicious has taken place. This attack came … [Read more...]
April 12, 2019
Fake Instagram assistance apps found on Google Play are stealing passwords
We all want those Instagram likes and followers. Many apps on Google Play claim they can assist you with that effort. But what if the app that’s supposed to be helping you is also stealing your username and password? As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what we found in three fake Instagram assistance apps still available on Google Play at the time of this writing. Moreover, these fake … [Read more...]
April 1, 2019
A week in security (March 25 – 31)
Last week, we looked at plugin vulnerabilities, location tracking app problems, and talked about plain text password woes. We also looked at federal data privacy regulation and took a deep dive into BatMobi Adware. Other cybersecurity news Poisoned software update headache for ASUS (Source: The Register) Britain’s Huawei oversight board releases its findings (Source: UK.GOV) Trojanised terror … [Read more...]
March 29, 2019
Awakening the beast: BatMobi adware
On February 12, a patron of the Malwarebytes Forum alerted us of an issue with ad redirects that seemed to come out of nowhere. An outcry from other commenters filled the forum thread, all experiencing the same redirects to the same exact websites. Our web protection team traced the offending websites back to the culprit—the adware known as BatMobi. What is BatMobi? BatMobi is an Advertisement … [Read more...]
January 31, 2019
Apple pulls Facebook enterprise certificate
It’s been an astonishing few days for Facebook. They’ve seen both an app and their enterprise certificate removed and revoked with big consequences. What happened? Apple issue enterprise certificates to organizations with which they can create internal apps. Those apps don’t end up released on the Apple store, because the terms of service don’t allow it. Anything storefront-bound must go … [Read more...]
January 2, 2019
The new landscape of pre-installed mobile malware: malicious code within
Here’s a scary thought: Mobile devices may soon come with pre-installed malware on required system apps. While it might sound like a grim foretelling, pre-installed mobile malware is an unfortunate reality of the future. In the past, we’ve seen pre-installed malware with the notorious Adups threat, among others. “Pre-installed” means the malware comes already installed on a … [Read more...]
December 18, 2018
All the reasons why cybercriminals want to hack your phone
When people think of hacking, most imagine desktop computers, laptops, or perhaps even security cameras. However, in recent years, cybercriminals have expanded their repertoire to include smartphones, too. Here are 10 reasons why they may be looking to hack your phone. 1. To infect it with malware Many smartphone users assume they can stay safe from malware and other threats by installing … [Read more...]
December 17, 2018
