"Rising Threat: Malicious Spyware Apps Targeting Android Users"

ESET researchers have uncovered a cyberespionage campaign conducted by the Patchwork APT group, involving twelve Android apps bundled with VajraSpy malware. The apps, disguised as messaging tools and a news app, were distributed on Google Play and other platforms, with over 1,400 downloads. The malware can steal contacts, files, call logs, and SMS messages, and some versions can even extract WhatsApp and Signal messages, record phone calls, and take pictures. The campaign primarily targeted users in Pakistan, likely through targeted romance scams, and has been attributed to the Patchwork APT group.