Android Click-Fraud Trojan Hides In Games And Uses AI To Mimic Real User Behavior

A new wave of Android click-fraud trojans are in the wild, and they're surprisingly well-hidden. For those familiar with the Android operating system, it's common knowledge that users can enable downloads of third-party applications from outside of Google's Play Store ecosystem. When you do so, the OS warns users of the security implications, but many users don't heed those warnings. These unofficial download locations often host pirated, copy-cat or bootleg applications that are stuffed with malware, which is the case with this most recent finding. Some copy-cat games carry the malicious payloads.

What makes this malware unique is how it functions, and how difficult it may be for end users to notice it. By using AI models and accurately imitating human behavior in a hidden window, these click fraud trojans can generate revenue for malicious actors without a user knowing their device is compromised. Applications infected ...