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The 6 most notorious and dangerous Android malware of all time

Android Police
Summary
Nutrition label

72% Informative

Android offers an opportunity to force malicious code on users, often without their knowledge.

The first well-known attack might not compete with big-money ransomware in terms of headline-worthy financial impact, but it marks the beginning of an onslaught of malicious code targeting Android users.

The StageFright revelation inspired improvements like sanitizing memory access to limit buffer overflows.

Malwarebytes outlined the removal process for xHelxHelper.

NSO Group Technologies launched Pegasus in 2021 , claiming to provide "authorized governments with technology that helps them combat terror and crime" The worrying part of a product like Pegasus is that it has the backing to continue threatening users.

Human behavior is, and always, the weak point in digital security.

VR Score

62

Informative language

55

Neutral language

32

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

65

Offensive language

possibly offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

medium-lived

External references

29

https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-unremovable-xhelper-malware-has-infected-45000-android-devices/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.domaintools.com/resources/blog/covidlock-update-coronavirus-ransomware/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2020/10/08/sophisticated-new-android-malware-marks-the-latest-evolution-of-mobile-ransomware/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.zimperium.com/blog/experts-found-a-unicorn-in-the-heart-of-android/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://9to5google.com/2015/07/27/worst-android-malware-ever/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/07/27/vast-majority-of-android-devices-are-vulnerable-to-stagefright-exploit-that-can-be-executed-via-text-message-according-to-researchers/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://securelist.com/unkillable-xhelper-and-a-trojan-matryoshka/96487/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2016/08/25/everything-we-know-about-nso-group-the-professional-spies-who-hacked-iphones-with-a-single-text/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.androidpolice.com/best-phone-battery-life/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.fortinet.com/blog/threat-research/android-malware-targets-diabetic-patients?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-android-malware-has-infected-85-million-devices-and-makes-its-creators-300000-a-month/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.hackmageddon.com/2011/08/11/one-year-of-android-malware-full-list/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.androidpolice.com/privacy-focused-apps-android-for-secure-data/?pubDate=20250214https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_(spyware)?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214#By_countryhttps://www.androidpolice.com/are-security-updates-really-that-important/?pubDate=20250214https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2020/02/new-variant-of-android-trojan-xhelper-reinfects-with-help-from-google-play?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.androidpolice.com/6-critical-threats-to-your-phone-protection/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://blog.isosceles.com/the-legacy-of-stagefright/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.checkpoint.com/press-releases/hummingbad-overtaken-leading-mobile-malware-januarys-global-threat-impact-index/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.xda-developers.com/stagefright-explained-the-exploit-that-changed-android?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.androidpolice.com/best-password-managers/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.zdnet.com/article/mobile-security-these-health-apps-arent-good-for-your-phone-or-your-privacy/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.androidpolice.com/ransomware-guide/?pubDate=20250214https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/mobile-trojan-detections-rise-as-malware-distribution-level-declines/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://blog.checkpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/HummingBad-Research-report_FINAL-62916.pdf?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.androidpolice.com/what-is-phishing/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.zscaler.com/blogs/security-research/covidlock-android-ransomware-walkthrough-and-unlocking-routine?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.deceptive.design/?utm=syndication&pubDate=20250214https://www.androidpolice.com/ways-to-tell-if-your-android-phone-has-malware/?pubDate=20250214

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