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Open Source Malware Surges 140% as Attacks Target Developers

Klopatra malware has infected around 3,000 devices by mimicking a free VPN app to steal banking credentials and build a botnet, cybersecurity firm Cleafy said.

  • Cybersecurity firm Cleafy issued a report saying Klopatra poses as the free VPN Mobdro Pro IP + VPN, leveraging the Mobdro brand to trick users into installing malware.
  • Kaspersky researchers in the past year warned of rising malware apps posing as free VPNs, including MaskVPN, PaladinVPN, ShineVPN, ShieldVPN, DewVPN and ProxyGate.
  • A fake installation wizard guides users through steps that hand over total control using accessibility services, while Cleafy says the group probably based in Turkey is refining its tactics.
  • Victims face drained banking apps as Klopatra abuses accessibility services, and Cleafy believes it has roped around 3,000 devices mainly in Italy and Spain.
  • App stores may be slow to remove implicated apps, so users should vet free VPN apps before downloading and, if unsure, choose Proton VPN or hide.me.
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A sophisticated malware called Klopatra is causing chaos, because it is camouflaged in highly requested apps, which offer from pirate IPTV lists, to free VPNs.

·Madrid, Spain
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A new malicious ad campaign has managed to manipulate Grok, the "chatbot" integrated into social network X (formerly Twitter), to spread large-scale phishing and malware links.

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HackRead broke the news in on Monday, March 10, 2025.
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