RedDrop malware: After so many years of blogging we can be proud that we have never used terms like "Caution" in titles unless there is a good reason. The recently discovered RedDrop malware for Android is a very serious reason.
The malware works "underground" stealing sensitive data from the infected Appliances (including recorded phone calls) and stores them in Cloud storage accounts.
But it does not only do that…
RedDrop works like spyware eavesdropping, collecting information from the device, but also audio recordings from the victim's environment, along with of course all the data included on the device: photos, contacts, notes, saved Wi-Fi networks and nearby hotspots.
Researchers from the security company Wandera, who revealed it, refer to it as "one of the most advanced malware for Android". When RedDrop is installed no one realizes that their device is infected until they get the first bill…
Malware sends secret SMS messages to a service that charges them, in addition to all of the spyware activities mentioned above. The security company reports that malicious software is so smart that immediately after sending an SMS, it takes care to hide all the evidence of the messages that have been sent.
In total, 53 have been discovered applications used to distribute the malware.
RedDrop distributes these games: Space Game Free, Video Blocker, Cosmos FM, Plus Italy, Paint It Hot Tone and Ninja Slice. None of these apps comes from the official Google Play Store, but from Third Party Stores.
However, to direct the user to the malware the researchers found that fraudsters use a complex network containing over 3.000 interconnected domains in an attempt to bypass and prevent detection techniques to increase the chances of the malware being successfully installed on a device.
The initial download is simply a dropper, which when opened and running, will connect to a server orders and control (C&C) to download additional files.
When installed spyware starts collecting the data mentioned above and saves it to Dropbox or Google Drive. At the same time it starts to use SMS sending.
The combination of these actions is extremely destructive, both for the victim's privacy and for his financial situation.
Currently, it is not known exactly what the RedDrop team is (except for obvious financial gain), but their interest in data theft and sound recordings from infected devices indicates interest in espionage. As the team seems to have enough human resources that is capable of deploying too many applications, it also maintains sophisticated malware.
