Cybersecurity
Kaspersky discovers Android spyware
The Russian IT security company Kaspersky has discovered spyware called 'Skygofree' for Google's Android operating system. It reads WhatsApp messages and can eavesdrop on conversations via the microphone.
Kaspersky found some affected users in Italy and suspects that the software was developed by an Italian IT company specializing in surveillance solutions. Kaspersky gave the program the name 'Skygofree'. It is one of the most powerful spying tools for Android that the company has ever come across.
Skygofree' uses a trick to access WhatsApp messages: the spyware misuses the accessibility feature, which is actually intended to help people with disabilities. To do this, it can access the content of the screen, for example to read it aloud. Although the user's consent is required to activate the function, they are tricked into doing so by a fake request on the device.
Other data that 'Skygofree' can access from an infected Android smartphone includes text messages, location data, call logs and calendar entries. Information from other apps could also be accessed. When the device is unlocked, a photo or video can be taken of the user. It is also possible to set the software to activate the microphone for eavesdropping as soon as the phone is in a specified location. In addition, the infected devices could secretly connect to a prepared WLAN of the attackers so that transmitted data can be tapped.
According to Kaspersky's findings, the first variants of the software date back to 2014, and the spread was particularly active the following year and continued into the fall of 2017. Kaspersky discovered the program in October last year. It is mainly spread via fake mobile phone provider websites. During the analysis, spying tools for Windows computers were also discovered.
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