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ToxicPanda Banking Trojan Infects Over 1,500 Android Smartphones, Targets 16 Banks: Report

Ashish Singh — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 07:23:35 +0000

ToxicPanda — a banking trojan that is believed to be in an early stage of development — has been detected by security researchers in Europe and Latin America. It is believed to be derived from another banking trojan detected in 2023, and is used to remotely take over accounts on compromised phones, allowing attackers to transfer funds while bypassing security measures aimed at stopping suspicious transactions. ToxicPanda was reportedly found on over 1,500 devices, while targeting users of 16 banking institutions.

Researchers at Cleafy’s Threat Intelligence detected a new Android malware in October that they previously detected as TgToxic, another banking trojan that was actively used in Southeast Asia and was identified by the group last year. The researchers found that the new sample did not contain capabilities from TgToxic, and that the code was not similar to the original trojan.

The ToxicPanda trojan is disguised as popular applications
Photo Credit: Cleafy

As a result, the researchers started to track the newly detected remote access trojan (RAT) as ToxicPanda and warns that the malware can lead to account takeover (ATO) after a victim’s device is infected. Cleafy’s Threat Intelligence team also says that by opting for manual distribution (sideloading, using social engineering), threat actors (TA) can circumvent a bank’s security measures that are used to keep users safe.

In order to access almost all information on a user’s device, the malware exploits the accessibility service on Android, allowing it to capture data from all apps. It is also capable of sidestepping two-factor authentication (such as OTPs) by capturing the contents of the screen.

The creators of the ToxicPanda malware are Chinese speakers, according to the researchers. Over 1,500 devices were infected with the ToxicPanda trojan and users from Italy were the most impacted — more than 50 percent of all infected devices. Other impacted locations include Portugal, Spain, France, and Peru. Customers of 16 banks were reportedly targeted by the TAs using the ToxicPanda trojan.

The researchers also point out that current antivirus solutions have failed to detect these threats, which suggests the need for a “proactive, real-time detection system”. A botnet of infected devices was also spotted in use in Europe and Latin American countries, which suggests that the Chinese-based TAs are now turning their attention to other markets.

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ToxicPanda Banking Trojan Infects Over 1,500 Android Smartphones, Targets 16 Banks: Report

Ashish Singh — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 07:23:35 +0000

ToxicPanda — a banking trojan that is believed to be in an early stage of development — has been detected by security researchers in Europe and Latin America. It is believed to be derived from another banking trojan detected in 2023, and is used to remotely take over accounts on compromised phones, allowing attackers to transfer funds while bypassing security measures aimed at stopping suspicious transactions. ToxicPanda was reportedly found on over 1,500 devices, while targeting users of 16 banking institutions.

Researchers at Cleafy’s Threat Intelligence detected a new Android malware in October that they previously detected as TgToxic, another banking trojan that was actively used in Southeast Asia and was identified by the group last year. The researchers found that the new sample did not contain capabilities from TgToxic, and that the code was not similar to the original trojan.

The ToxicPanda trojan is disguised as popular applications
Photo Credit: Cleafy

As a result, the researchers started to track the newly detected remote access trojan (RAT) as ToxicPanda and warns that the malware can lead to account takeover (ATO) after a victim’s device is infected. Cleafy’s Threat Intelligence team also says that by opting for manual distribution (sideloading, using social engineering), threat actors (TA) can circumvent a bank’s security measures that are used to keep users safe.

In order to access almost all information on a user’s device, the malware exploits the accessibility service on Android, allowing it to capture data from all apps. It is also capable of sidestepping two-factor authentication (such as OTPs) by capturing the contents of the screen.

The creators of the ToxicPanda malware are Chinese speakers, according to the researchers. Over 1,500 devices were infected with the ToxicPanda trojan and users from Italy were the most impacted — more than 50 percent of all infected devices. Other impacted locations include Portugal, Spain, France, and Peru. Customers of 16 banks were reportedly targeted by the TAs using the ToxicPanda trojan.

The researchers also point out that current antivirus solutions have failed to detect these threats, which suggests the need for a “proactive, real-time detection system”. A botnet of infected devices was also spotted in use in Europe and Latin American countries, which suggests that the Chinese-based TAs are now turning their attention to other markets.

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Nintendo Launches Music App That Lets You Stream Video Game Soundtracks

Ashish Singh — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:22:08 +0000

Nintendo has launched a new music app with a library that consists of video game soundtracks from classics like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda games. It has scores from newer releases as well and newer tracks will be added to the app. Users do not require a Nintendo Switch to access the app, however, they will need a Nintendo Switch Online membership alongside an active Nintendo account. The Nintendo Music app is available for Android as well as iOS devices in select regions globally.

Nintendo Music Availability

The Nintendo Music app is available for Android and iOS devices via Google Play and App Store, respectively. Users will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership and a Nintendo account to access the app.

Nintendo Music app is currently available in the US, the UK, Japan, and Australia among many other countries. Notably, the application is not accessible in India yet.

Nintendo Music Features

The Nintendo Music app allows users to stream video game soundtracks from games like Splatoon 3, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Kirby Star Allies, Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pikmin 4, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet among many others. There are preset playlists based on games, genres, characters, moods and more that users can enjoy. Users can create their own playlists as well, similar to other music streaming apps like Spotify and YouTube Music.

Nintendo has included a Spoiler Prevention feature in the Nintendo Music app. If there is a game that the user has not yet played and they want to avoid its soundtrack, they can enable this feature and select the game. This will keep those select tracks hidden from the users’s library until they delist the game.

The Nintendo Music app includes an Extend feature which allows users to extend the runtime of a certain track by essentially looping it. Users can choose to loop a track for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 60 minutes.

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WhatsApp for Android Reportedly Testing Snapchat-Like Camera Effects With Filters and Backgrounds

Ashish Singh — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 13:36:19 +0000

WhatsApp for Android might be getting a new feature which will make video calls and capturing images within the app more fun. As per a feature tracker, the instant messaging platform is testing camera effects. The new feature is said to add filters, backgrounds, and other effects to users’ faces when capturing an image or during video calls. While some of the effects can reportedly be activated manually, others are said to be triggered automatically based on expressions and gestures.

WhatsApp Camera Effects Feature

According to the WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo report, the feature was spotted in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.24.22.10 which is currently available on the Play Store. The feature is said to be visible in the beta version but is available to only a few beta testers currently.

WhatsApp camera effects feature
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

Based on the screenshots shared by the feature tracker, the new feature can be turned on or off from the app’s Privacy settings. A new option dubbed Allow camera effects can be seen within the settings which can be toggled on or off. A description of the feature highlights, “To provide a more expressive experience, some effects will mimic your face and hands.”

The description also states that the feature is available when the camera is used to click pictures or during video calls. The feature tracker reveals that some of these effects can be applied automatically based on users’ facial expressions, hand gestures, movements, and more. Others are said to be applied manually using options visible on the display.

While the feature is said to be controlled from the privacy settings, it can also be activated or disabled directly from the camera screen and video call interface, allowing users an easy way to access the effects. The feature tracker also highlighted that the camera effects do not compromise any encryption protocols and even when turned on, the video calls remain end-to-end encrypted.

While the WhatsApp feature is currently available to some beta testers, it is currently not known when camera effects might be rolled out to a wider user base.

Gemini in Google Chat Rolled Out for Workspace Users, Can Summarise Unread Conversations

Ashish Singh — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 13:28:37 +0000

Gemini capabilities were introduced in Google Chat on Monday. The Google Hangouts successor is now getting the artificial intelligence (AI) summaries feature for unread conversations. The feature is being rolled out to the Workspace users who have one of the Gemini add-ons. Notably, Gemini in Google Chat will be available on all existing platforms including Android, iOS, as well as the web client. This feature comes months after the Mountain View-based tech giant released the AI-powered summarise feature for Gmail.

Gemini in Google Chat Can Now Summarise Unread Conversations

In a Workspace blog post, the tech giant detailed the new feature for Google Chat. This is a paid feature which will only be available to Google Workspace users who also have Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, or Education Premium add-ons. It is currently being rolled out but the company has highlighted that it can take up to 15 days before being available to all eligible users globally.

AI summaries in Google Chat
Photo Credit: Google

The AI summarise feature will be available in the home view of Google Chat. Whenever a user navigates to an unread conversation, they will see a small Summarise icon preceded by the Gemini sparkle icon. Tapping on the icon will automatically generate a summary of unread messages in a bulleted format. The summary will appear in a separate floating window on top of the unread conversation. Once read, users can close the window and take any actions necessary.

Google Chat’s AI summaries feature is available for any group conversation, space, or thread in the home view that contains unread messages. The tech giant says the feature will enable users to prioritise the most important conversations without needing to read through every message individually.

To access the feature on the web, users can hover over an unread conversation and the summarise option will automatically appear. On Android and iOS, users can long-press an unread conversation to see the option. End users can turn the feature on or off via the Smart features & controls in Google products.

Google Play Store Developing Download Manager That Lists Recently Download Apps: Report

Ashish Singh — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 12:36:41 +0000

Google Play Store may be developing a new Download Manager which keeps a track and shows the recently downloaded apps on an Android device, according to a report. The feature was discovered during an APK teardown of a particular app version of the Google Play Store and is speculated to present Android users with a list that details the apps they have recently downloaded. When users exit the manager, it reportedly highlights apps that have been downloaded but not yet opened.

Download Manager on Google Play Store

According to an Android Authority report, the Download Manager on the Google Play Store will appear automatically once the installation of an app has been triggered. It was spotted following an APK teardown of the Google Play Store version 42.9.16-31, which contains several strings referencing the Download Manager. It also references the sorting of downloads based on install time and schedule time.

The report suggests that when a user opens the app mentioned in the list, it is exited and a screen showing the downloaded but unopened apps appears. Additionally, they will also reportedly see a count of the downloaded apps and games as a badge on the top of the app details page.

The Download Manager on Google Play Store was manually enabled during the APK teardown and is not available to the general public. Features discovered during the aforementioned process are usually for developer testing and an ambiguity remains over their public rollout.

Other New Features

In recent months, Google Play Store has rolled out several new features. This includes the ability to download up to three apps or app updates simultaneously. Google also made a big change recently by putting a stop to the generation of fat Android Application Packages (APKs) and prioritising its Android App Bundle (AAB) instead.

This potentially makes the process of sideloading apps a bit more tedious as users now require an APK bundle installer to be installed beforehand.

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Google Granted Request to Pause Order on Play Store Overhaul

Ashish Singh — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 05:24:24 +0000

A federal judge in California has granted Google’s request to temporarily pause his order directing the Alphabet unit to overhaul its Android app store Play by Nov. 1 to give consumers more choice over how they download software.

San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge James Donato made the decision on Friday as part of an antitrust lawsuit against Google by “Fortnite” maker Epic Games. Google argued that Donato’s Oct. 7 injunction would harm the company and introduce “serious safety, security and privacy risks into the Android ecosystem.”

Donato delayed the injunction to allow the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to consider Google’s separate request to pause the judge’s order.

Donato denied Google’s separate request to pause the order for the duration of its broader appeal in the case.

“We’re pleased with the District Court’s decision to temporarily pause the implementation of dangerous remedies demanded by Epic, as the Court of Appeal considers our request to further pause the remedies while we appeal,” Google said in a statement.

Epic in a statement called Donato’s ruling a procedural step, and said the court “made it clear that Google’s appeal is meritless and rejected their request to delay opening up Android devices to competition while the appeal is ongoing.”

Epic accused Google of using “fearmongering and unsubstantiated security threats to protect their control over Android devices and continue extracting exorbitant fees.”

In the Epic Games lawsuit, a jury last year found that Google illegally monopolized how consumers download apps on Android devices and how they pay for in-app transactions. The judge, in his order, embraced many of the steps recommended by Epic in light of the jury’s decision.

The order required Google to allow users to download competing third-party Android app platforms or stores in Play and to allow the use of competing in-app payment methods. It also barred Google from making payments to device makers to preinstall its app store and from sharing revenue generated from the Play store with other app distributors.

Google has already appealed the jury’s antitrust findings to the 9th Circuit.

Google has not presented its antitrust arguments to the appeals court. It previously has said that it cannot be considered a monopolist because Play and Apple’s App Store are direct competitors, and that Donato’s injunction would unlawfully force Google to do business with rivals.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Google Granted Request to Pause Order on Play Store Overhaul

Ashish Singh — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 05:24:24 +0000

A federal judge in California has granted Google’s request to temporarily pause his order directing the Alphabet unit to overhaul its Android app store Play by Nov. 1 to give consumers more choice over how they download software.

San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge James Donato made the decision on Friday as part of an antitrust lawsuit against Google by “Fortnite” maker Epic Games. Google argued that Donato’s Oct. 7 injunction would harm the company and introduce “serious safety, security and privacy risks into the Android ecosystem.”

Donato delayed the injunction to allow the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to consider Google’s separate request to pause the judge’s order.

Donato denied Google’s separate request to pause the order for the duration of its broader appeal in the case.

“We’re pleased with the District Court’s decision to temporarily pause the implementation of dangerous remedies demanded by Epic, as the Court of Appeal considers our request to further pause the remedies while we appeal,” Google said in a statement.

Epic in a statement called Donato’s ruling a procedural step, and said the court “made it clear that Google’s appeal is meritless and rejected their request to delay opening up Android devices to competition while the appeal is ongoing.”

Epic accused Google of using “fearmongering and unsubstantiated security threats to protect their control over Android devices and continue extracting exorbitant fees.”

In the Epic Games lawsuit, a jury last year found that Google illegally monopolized how consumers download apps on Android devices and how they pay for in-app transactions. The judge, in his order, embraced many of the steps recommended by Epic in light of the jury’s decision.

The order required Google to allow users to download competing third-party Android app platforms or stores in Play and to allow the use of competing in-app payment methods. It also barred Google from making payments to device makers to preinstall its app store and from sharing revenue generated from the Play store with other app distributors.

Google has already appealed the jury’s antitrust findings to the 9th Circuit.

Google has not presented its antitrust arguments to the appeals court. It previously has said that it cannot be considered a monopolist because Play and Apple’s App Store are direct competitors, and that Donato’s injunction would unlawfully force Google to do business with rivals.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Samsung Reportedly Working on Galaxy AI Feature to Replace Settings Menu Functionality

Ashish Singh — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 05:43:30 +0000

Samsung is reportedly working on a feature that will let customers use Galaxy AI — the company’s software powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that was launched earlier this year — to control various settings on their smartphones, instead of using the settings menu. The company’s built-in software such as the keyboard and camera apps could also be optimised using AI, according to a report that suggests the South Korean technology firm is looking to deliver more than just generative AI features currently available on its handsets.

According to an ETNews report (in Korean) citing information on the National IT Industry Promotion Agency’s (NIPA) ICT portal, Samsung is exploring the use of an AI feature that would enable customers to use their Galaxy smartphones “without having to open the settings menu.”

Samsung users can already control some settings on their handsets by giving the Google Assistant (or Bixby) voice commands, but the publication suggests that the company intends to use AI to analyse usage patterns as part of its strategy — something it hasn’t done so far.

The South Korean tech conglomerate is also reportedly considering the use of AI on important “touch points” on its smartphones, like the camera or keyboard. This is expected to allow these apps to anticipate what users are looking for, thus improving their functionality.

It is currently unclear whether Samsung’s AI-powered settings controls will help users manage system-level settings, or whether they will be able to control features inside the company’s applications. It is also highly unlikely that the settings app will be replaced by AI-based controls, but the ability to control some features using voice controls could be a useful upgrade.

Samsung also offers advanced customisation and automation features via its Good Lock software plugins that are available in several countries, including India. However, these features cannot currently be controlled via its Bixby assistant, so it remains to be seen whether the rumoured AI-based controls will let users enable or disable Good Lock features.

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Gemini AI Assistant Reportedly Getting Support for WhatsApp and Spotify via Extensions

Ashish Singh — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 12:05:36 +0000

Gemini virtual assistant on Android is reportedly getting new capabilities. The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot was integrated into the operating system as an alternative to Google Assistant. With AI capabilities, the Gemini AI assistant could answer queries, generate text, and search the web. However, its third-party app integration was limited, resulting in it not being very useful for general use cases. The tech giant changed it with extensions that allowed the AI chatbot to access certain apps. Now, Gemini is said to be getting extension capabilities for WhatsApp and Spotify.

Gemini Assistant Gets More Extensions

According to an Android Authority report, the new capabilities were spotted in the Google app for Android beta version 15.40.31.29 by tipster AssembleDebug. This feature has not been rolled out, so beta testers will not be able to find it. However, after activating the extension, a new prompt card reportedly appeared explaining that Google Assistant actions are being replaced with Gemini Extensions. Gemini app activity is said to be used for actions such as picking a contact. Also, to use extensions, users will have to keep Gemini app activity turned on.

Gemini extensions on Android
Photo Credit: Android Authority/AssembleDebug

The app will also track and find out which app the user prefers to call or text a specific contact, as per the report. Using this data, Gemini is said to automatically pick the preferred app by default. This preference can reportedly be changed, and any extension can be turned off in the activity menu.

The tipster was reportedly able to activate the extension for WhatsApp. The new Gemini extension is said to let users send text messages to the specified contact using verbal prompts, just like Google Assistant. Upon invoking, the Gemini assistant interface reportedly shows an app card, which can be clicked to directly enter the app and check the message. The extension reportedly also allows users to modify messages before sending them and to make voice calls using the app.

Coming to Spotify, the extension reportedly works for both free subscribers and Premium users. Users can reportedly prompt Gemini to play a song on Spotify and it will automatically pick and begin playing the song. Just like WhatsApp, it is said that the Spotify card appears after the AI carries out the command, and the user can tap on the card to enter the selected song within the app.