--- title: Numerous Malicious Financial Apps Discovered Targeting Android Devices description: Numerous Malicious Financial Apps Discovered Targeting Android Devices --- [Securafy Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com) - [Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover) - [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools) - [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books) [Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) [Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover) [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools) [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books) [Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) [Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com) / IT Operations IT Operations # Numerous Malicious Financial Apps Discovered Targeting Android Devices Numerous Malicious Financial Apps Discovered Targeting Android Devices ![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png) By Randy Hall Updated Jul 2024 2 min read Share [**](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2021/05/31/numerous-malicious-financial-apps-discovered-targeting-android-devices) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2021/05/31/numerous-malicious-financial-apps-discovered-targeting-android-devices&text=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3ENumerous+Malicious+Financial+Apps+Discovered+Targeting+Android+Devices%3C%2Fspan%3E) [**](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3ENumerous+Malicious+Financial+Apps+Discovered+Targeting+Android+Devices%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=https://blog.securafy.com/2021/05/31/numerous-malicious-financial-apps-discovered-targeting-android-devices) ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)Recently, Google did some house cleaning. They removed ten different apps from the Play Store, all of which contained droppers for financial Trojans, this according to a recent blog post by Check Point Research. Apparently, all ten of the poisoned apps were submitted by the same threat actor, who took pains to get them past Google's extensive verification process. They even went so far as to create separate developer accounts for each of the apps in question. Of course, that alone wouldn't have been enough to get past Google. So the attacker took the step of creating innocent looking utilities, with functionality copied and pasted from existing, legitimate, open-source Android apps. On top of that, the hackers utilized Firebase as their command-and-control platform and GitHub was exploited to handle payload downloads. Further, the C2 infrastructure contained an "Enable" flag that was set to "false" until Google had taken the step of actually publishing the app on the Play Store. In other words, this was a highly sophisticated operation that left nothing to chance. **The Check Point researchers who discovered the threat, dubbed Clast82, had this to say about the threat:** "*If the infected device prevents installations of applications from unknown sources, Clast82 prompts the user with a fake request, pretending to be 'Google Play Services' requesting the user to allow the installation every five seconds.* *The hacker behind Clast82 was able to bypass Google Play's protections using a creative, but concerning, methodology. With a simple manipulation of readily available third-party resources -- like a GitHub account, or a FireBase account -- the hacker was able to leverage readily available resources to bypass Google Play Store's protections."* Although we don't yet know who was behind the attack, the group has obvious skill, and this is almost certainly not the last we've seen of them. Stay vigilant out there. Tagged Under IT Operations[Cybersecurity](https://blog.securafy.com/tag/cybersecurity)Business Continuity In This Article Need Help With Your Current Setup? Talk through your current systems, risks, and support gaps with Securafy. [Book a Strategy Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) ## Join The Conversation Have a question or perspective on this topic? Add it below. ![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png) About The Author Randy Hall · CEO & Founder Randy Hall is the CEO and Founder of Securafy, with decades of experience helping organizations make smarter, safer decisions about technology. A frequent speaker and instructor at national IT events, Randy has advised thousands of organizations, from startups and SMBs to large enterprises and U.S. government entities, on secure, practical technology adoption. He writes about the decisions business leaders are often expected to make without enough context, including cybersecurity, compliance, AI, cyber insurance, IT strategy, and business resilience. Outside the office, you’ll often find Randy on Lake Erie enjoying time on his 38-foot Chris-Craft. **Writes about:** Cybersecurity strategy, compliance, AI security, business resilience, cyber insurance, SMB risk, IT leadership [More From This Author →](https://blog.securafy.com/author/randyhall) Related Articles [Multi Factor Authentication Best Practices for CJIS Security Policy Compliance](https://blog.securafy.com/multi-factor-authentication-best-practices-for-cjis-security-policy-compliance) Law enforcement agencies and criminal justice organizations face mounting pressure to ... 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