Skip to main content

A Horde of 'malware Vikings' threatens the security of Android: Check Point alert

The security company Check Point has detected a new type of attack that targets Android devices and can be installed using Google Play Store. Viking Horde, this is its name, can perform click fraud and launch other types of attacks, such as DDoS, spam messages, and more. To get around the store checks have been "at least five versions" Viking Horde, with Google that has been advised of the presence of the malware already on 5 May.

Viking Horde creates the devices, are in them unlocked root access or not, a botnet that uses IP addresses converted to proxy to conceal click fraud that guarantee the economic revenue attackers. The bigger the botnet, or the network consisting of connected computing devices and infected by malware, the higher the revenue for criminals that lie behind the hack. Thanks to the processing capacity distributed on multiple devices the botnet can be used for different purposes, and more is extended and becomes more menacing.

On rooted devices the potential of Viking Horde grow. The software is able to download other malware that can in turn perform any type of remote code, with the possibility of jeopardizing the security of the data stored on the device. Also it reaps all the benefits that are conferred by root permissions, making it difficult, if not impossible, manually on the device removal. The most downloaded application containing malware is Viking Jump, released on the store last April 15 and counts from 50,000 to 10,000 downloads.

In some local markets, according to reports from Check Point, Viking Jump is one of the most downloaded free apps on Android store in recent weeks. Other applications that integrate malware are Wi-Fi Plus (loaded on the store on March 29), Memory Booster, Parrot Copter and Simple 2048.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Silent Revolution of On-Device AI: Why the Cloud Is No Longer King

Introduction For years, artificial intelligence has meant one thing: the cloud. Whether you’re asking ChatGPT a question, editing a photo with AI tools, or getting recommendations on Netflix — those decisions happen on distant servers, not your device. But that’s changing. Thanks to major advances in silicon, model compression, and memory architecture, AI is quietly migrating from giant data centres to the palm of your hand. Your phone, your laptop, your smartwatch — all are becoming AI engines in their own right. It’s a shift that redefines not just how AI works, but who controls it, how private it is, and what it can do for you. This article explores the rise of on-device AI — how it works, why it matters, and why the cloud’s days as the centre of the AI universe might be numbered. What Is On-Device AI? On-device AI refers to machine learning models that run locally on your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or edge device — without needing constant access to the cloud. In practi...

Apple’s AI Push: Everything We Know About Apple Intelligence So Far

Apple’s WWDC 2025 confirmed what many suspected: Apple is finally making a serious leap into artificial intelligence. Dubbed “Apple Intelligence,” the suite of AI-powered tools, enhancements, and integrations marks the company’s biggest software evolution in a decade. But unlike competitors racing to plug AI into everything, Apple is taking a slower, more deliberate approach — one rooted in privacy, on-device processing, and ecosystem synergy. If you’re wondering what Apple Intelligence actually is, how it works, and what it means for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you’re in the right place. This article breaks it all down.   What Is Apple Intelligence? Let’s get the terminology clear first. Apple Intelligence isn’t a product — it’s a platform. It’s not just a chatbot. It’s a system-wide integration of generative AI, machine learning, and personal context awareness, embedded across Apple’s OS platforms. Think of it as a foundational AI layer stitched into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and m...

Max Q: Anomalous

Hello and welcome back to Max Q! Last week wasn’t the most successful for spaceflight missions. We’ll get into that a bit more below. In this issue: First up, a botched launch from Virgin Orbit… …followed by one from ABL Space Systems News from Rocket Lab, World View and more Virgin Orbit’s botched launch highlights shaky financial future After Virgin Orbit’s launch failure last Monday, during which the mission experienced an  “anomaly” that prevented the rocket from reaching orbit, I went back over the company’s financials — and things aren’t looking good. For Virgin Orbit, this year has likely been completely turned on its head. The company was aiming for three launches this year, but everything will remain grounded until the cause of the anomaly has been identified and resolved. It’s unclear how long that will take, but likely at least three months. Add this delay to Virgin’s dwindling cash reserves and you have a foundation that’s suddenly much shakier than before. ...