Examine our research from the last year in the ReliaQuest 2024 Annual Cyber-Threat Report
Reduce Alert Noise and False Positives
Boost your team's productivity by cutting down alert noise and false positives.
Automate Security Operations
Boost efficiency, reduce burnout, and better manage risk through automation.
Dark Web Monitoring
Online protection tuned to the need of your business.
Maximize Existing Security Investments
Improve efficiencies from existing investments in security tools.
Beyond MDR
Move your security operations beyond the limitations of MDR.
Secure with Microsoft 365 E5
Boost the power of Microsoft 365 E5 security.
Secure Multi-Cloud Environments
Improve cloud security and overcome complexity across multi-cloud environments.
Secure Mergers and Acquisitions
Control cyber risk for business acquisitions and dispersed business units.
Operational Technology
Solve security operations challenges affecting critical operational technology (OT) infrastructure.
Force-Multiply Your Security Operations
Whether you’re just starting your security journey, need to up your game, or you’re not happy with an existing service, we can help you to achieve your security goals.
Detection Investigation Response
Modernize Detection, Investigation, Response with a Security Operations Platform.
Threat Hunting
Locate and eliminate lurking threats with ReliaQuest GreyMatter
Threat Intelligence
Find cyber threats that have evaded your defenses.
Model Index
Security metrics to manage and improve security operations.
Breach and Attack Simulation
GreyMatter Verify is ReliaQuest’s automated breach and attack simulation capability.
Digital Risk Protection
Continuous monitoring of open, deep, and dark web sources to identify threats.
Phishing Analyzer
GreyMatter Phishing Analyzer removes the abuse mailbox management by automating the DIR process for you.
Integration Partners
The GreyMatter cloud-native Open XDR platform integrates with a fast-growing number of market-leading technologies.
Unify and Optimize Your Security Operations
ReliaQuest GreyMatter is a security operations platform built on an open XDR architecture and designed to help security teams increase visibility, reduce complexity, and manage risk across their security tools, including on-premises, clouds, networks, and endpoints.
Blog
Company Blog
Case Studies
Brands of the world trust ReliaQuest to achieve their security goals.
Data Sheets
Learn how to achieve your security outcomes faster with ReliaQuest GreyMatter.
eBooks
The latest security trends and perspectives to help inform your security operations.
Industry Guides and Reports
The latest security research and industry reports.
Podcasts
Catch up on the latest cybersecurity podcasts, and mindset moments from our very own mental performance coaches.
Solution Briefs
A deep dive on how ReliaQuest GreyMatter addresses security challenges.
White Papers
The latest white papers focused on security operations strategy, technology & insight.
Videos
Current and future SOC trends presented by our security experts.
Events & Webinars
Explore all upcoming company events, in-person and on-demand webinars
ReliaQuest ResourceCenter
From prevention techniques to emerging security trends, our comprehensive library can arm you with the tools you need to improve your security posture.
Threat Research
Get the latest threat analysis from the ReliaQuest Threat Research Team. ReliaQuest ShadowTalk Weekly podcast featuring discussions on the latest cybersecurity news and threat research.
Shadow Talk
ReliaQuest's ShadowTalk is a weekly podcast featuring discussions on the latest cybersecurity news and threat research. ShadowTalk's hosts come from threat intelligence, threat hunting, security research, and leadership backgrounds providing practical perspectives on the week's top cybersecurity stories.
March 26, 2024
About ReliaQuest
We bring our best attitude, energy and effort to everything we do, every day, to make security possible.
Leadership
Security is a team sport.
No Show Dogs Podcast
Mental Performance Coaches Derin McMains and Dr. Nicole Detling interview world-class performers across multiple industries.
Make It Possible
Make It Possible reflects our focus on bringing cybersecurity awareness to our communities and enabling the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Careers
Join our world-class team.
Press and Media Coverage
ReliaQuest newsroom covering the latest press release and media coverage.
Become a Channel Partner
When you partner with ReliaQuest, you help deliver world-class cybersecurity solutions.
Contact Us
How can we help you?
A Mindset Like No Other in the Industry
Many companies tout their cultures; at ReliaQuest, we share a mindset. We focus on four values every day to make security possible: being accountable, helpful, adaptable, and focused. These values drive development of our platform, relationships with our customers and partners, and further the ReliaQuest promise of security confidence across our customers and our own teams.
More results...
Android mobile devices were an attractive target for malicious activity throughout 2017. The ubiquity of these devices, and the sensitive data they often hold, enticed both espionage and financially motivated attackers. In 2017, we reported on 48 separate campaigns that targeted mobile applications and vulnerabilities. Our research highlighted the following key takeaways from the past year:
Google Play was the most frequently cited single-source of Android malware infections. Despite the security measures put in place, the official Google Play store can still be used to distribute malicious applications; and given its popularity, criminal actors will continue to target it as a means of distributing malicious apps.
However, 66% of reported initial infections were from locations other than the official app store. Google Play’s profile can also slightly skew public reporting of Android malware infections, as security researchers will often focus on identifying security weaknesses on the most well-known platforms ahead of other, third-party sites. The number of infection entry points outside of app stores should remind us to remain vigilant of phishing texts and emails, and to take added precautions when browsing on mobile devices.
Figure 1 Reported initial infection points for mobile malware since January 1st 2017 (unknown omitted)
Attackers predominantly used two variations of malicious apps to disguise malware and push downloads; apps either a) acted as legitimate resources such as cryptocurrency, security and games services, or b) fraudulently used branding associated with credible organizations, like Chrome or Adobe.
Once installed, malware used a variety of methods to obtain device or user information, including requesting that the user accepts unnecessary permissions and escalating administrative privileges. Where user interaction was required to harvest data, overlays – where a malicious app superimposes over a legitimate app – were commonly deployed to prompt users to enter personal and financial information.
These Android malware deployments included both opportunistic campaigns where users inadvertently downloaded malicious apps from a given site, as well as more targeted social engineering campaigns, such as those targeting users based in a particular country or industry.
Figure 2 Reported techniques, tactics and procedures in Android incidents since January 1st 2017
Gathering information, such as profiling device information or recording phone calls and messages, was the most prevalent reason for infection. Collecting financial and banking data came a close second. Mobile banking malware uses sophisticated techniques for harvesting data, including overlays specific to target banks, and intercepting SMS messages to obtain multi-factor authentication codes.
Given the increase in reports of cryptocurrency mining malware in 2018, which is partly a result of the steep rise in cryptocurrency prices, there is a realistic possibility that more Android malware attacks will incorporate cryptocurrency mining payloads in future.
Figure 3 Reported function of mobile malware since January 1st 2017
We expect malware campaigns against the Android platform to continue in 2018; nevertheless, enterprises and individuals can take several preventative measures to lower the risk of infection:
Subscribe here to get the latest threat intelligence and more from Digital Shadows (now ReliaQuest) in your inbox.