Russia has become one of the countries where users of the Android operating system most often encounter spyware.
This was reported by ESET, whose analysts explained the functionality of spyware and warned of their danger.
In particular, experts found that from September to December 2021, the total number of Android spyware in Russia increased by almost 20 percent compared to earlier figures for the year. As a result, the country entered the top 5 countries in the world in terms of hacker threats associated with stalking. Also, significant growth was recorded in Mexico, Ukraine, Brazil and Turkey.
ESET experts noted that such malware most often monitors the location of users and keeps a log of their activity. The software registers clicks while typing and sends screenshots of the screen to third-party servers. Experts explained that for espionage, the programs block the protective elements of the operating system: they work in stealth mode without notifications and disguise themselves as standard utilities.
“Unwanted stalking software is overwhelmingly distributed through clones of legitimate applications downloaded from unofficial stores,” explained ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko. However, commercial developers who openly offer spyware are also gaining popularity in the market, he added. According to the expert, usually the creators of such programs position their products as a means of spying on a sexual partner.
