A new Android banking Trojan, Crocodilus, has rapidly evolved since its discovery in March 2025. Initially targeting Turkey, it has expanded to European countries and South America. The malware is distributed through malicious advertising on social networks, masquerading as banking and e-commerce apps. Recent developments include improved obfuscation techniques, the ability to add contacts to the victim's device, and an enhanced seed phrase collector for cryptocurrency wallets. Campaigns have been observed targeting users in Poland, Spain, and multiple global locations. The malware's sophistication and expanding reach indicate a well-organized threat actor, posing an increasing risk to users and organizations worldwide.
Zanubis is an evolving Android banking Trojan that emerged in 2022, targeting financial institutions in Peru before expanding to virtual cards and crypto wallets. It impersonates legitimate apps to trick users into granting accessibility permissions, enabling extensive data theft and device control. The malware has undergone significant development, incorporating features like SMS hijacking, screen recording, and device credential stealing. Recent versions show improved obfuscation, encryption, and silent installation techniques. The threat actors, likely based in Peru, continue to refine the malware's capabilities and targeting strategy, focusing on high-value financial targets in the region.
The infostealer Danabot has been disrupted in a multinational law enforcement operation. ESET has been tracking Danabot since 2018, contributing to the effort by providing technical analyses and identifying C&C servers. Danabot operates as a malware-as-a-service, offering various features like data theft, keylogging, and remote control. It has been used to distribute additional malware, including ransomware. The malware's authors promote their toolset through underground forums, providing affiliates with an administration panel, backconnect tool, and proxy server application. Distribution methods have included email spam, other malware, and misuse of Google Ads. Danabot employs a proprietary encrypted communication protocol and offers multiple build options for affiliates.
DanaBot, a versatile and persistent threat since 2018, has evolved from a banking trojan to a multi-purpose malware platform. It maintained an average of 150 active C2 servers daily, with 1,000 daily victims across 40+ countries. The malware's stealth and multi-tiered architecture contributed to its success. Operated likely from Russia, DanaBot's infrastructure includes Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 C2 servers. The botnet's size peaked during high-profile events, with Mexico and the US among the most impacted countries. Despite its longevity, only 25% of its C2 servers had detectable malicious signatures. Operation Endgame II, a collaborative effort between security firms and law enforcement, dealt a significant blow to DanaBot's operations.
