"New Android Malware Called SMSFactory Is Increasing Users' Phone Bill By Subscribing To Premium Services"
Newly detected Android malware called SMSFactory is increasing phone bills by adding premium service subscriptions unbeknownst to victims. According to researchers at Avast, the malware has various distribution channels, including those associated with push alerts, promotional marketing strategies on websites, and malvertising. The SMSFactory malware is suspected of having targeted nearly 165,000 customers with Android devices in the past year. Nations most commonly affected by the malware include Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, and Brazil. One researcher noted that SMSFactory is being hosted across different app stores that have failed to obtain statuses that prove they are legitimate or official. APKMods and PaidAPKFree are examples of these app repositories seen on Android. This article continues to discuss findings regarding the capabilities and distribution of the new SMSFactory Android malware.