- Hook V3 uses fake Google Pay -Overlays to fool victims to surrender sensitive card data
- Real-time screen streaming allows attackers to spy directly on the victims
- GitHub Reposititories are hosted of malicious APKS that spreads advanced malware more far -reaching
Hook V3, the latest variant of the long -lasting hook Android Banking Trojan Malware, introducing an unusually wide range of capabilities, experts have warned.
Researchers at Zimperium Zlabs claim that malware now supports 107 remote commands, with 38 added in the latest update, and it continues to utilize Android accessories.
Its extended functionality suggests a shift from narrow bank fraud to a more versatile threat platform – potentially putting many more victims at risk.
Ransomware -Overlays and Misleading Prompts
In their report, researchers outline how HOOK V3 can steal personal data, hijack user sessions and bypass device defense.
“The Hook V3 blurs the line between banking troops, spyware and ransomware,” said Nico Chiaraviglio, chief scientist at Zimperium.
“Its rapid development and broad distribution raise the threat to financial institutions, businesses and mobile users around the world. This discovery strengthens the urgent need for proactive defense on the device.”
One of the defining additions is the use of Overlays in Ransomware style. Victims may encounter full-screen warnings that require payment, a tactic that is more commonly associated with desktop ransomware.
Such attacks highlight the need for stronger ransomware protection on mobile devices, an area that is traditionally less underlined.
Hook V3 also uses fake locking screens that mimic legitimate pin or pattern prints.
When users enter their details, attackers receive credentials to bypass locking screens. This combination of overlays and remote commands makes malware particularly intrusive.
The Trojan now also contains false NFC scan screens and counterfeit debit cards.
These are designed to mimic legitimate services such as Google Pay, increasing the likelihood of unsuspecting users entering sensitive data.
Transparent overlays detect silent movements, while real -time streaming allows attackers to view device activity when it happens.
By combining passive theft with active surveillance, HOOK V3 demonstrates a layered approach to intrusion.
Although it does not directly launch distributed denial attacks, its broad command set reflects the same type of versatility that motivates investments in DDOS protection in wider cyber security strategies.
Hook V3 is spreading through phishing places, but malicious APKs have also been hosted open on GitHub, which means attackers use widely trusted platforms to distribute malware.
That said, Hook still seems to be under development, with code fragments referring to Rabbitmq and Telegram.
Although there are signs of the use of limited telegram to send injection data, the absence of chat -IIDs or bot tokens suggests that these features remain unfinished.
