Counterfeit Android phones are hiding pre-installed malware that can infect every system process

In a nutshell: It should go without saying that buying a very cheap, obviously counterfeit Android handset is a bad idea. Not only will you likely run into a slew of technical problems, but it could also contain pre-installed malware that infects virtually every process carried out by the handset.

Kaspersky researchers have discovered a new strain of the Triada Trojan preinstalled on thousands of new very cheap Android devices – counterfeit versions of popular models. The modular remote access trojan (RAT), first identified in 2016, can steal sensitive data and crypto while performing other malicious actions.

The malware is embedded in an infected phone's firmware, operating without detection and granting attackers full control over a device.

The list of malicious actions the new strain of Triada can perform is an extensive one. It is able to send and delete messages in WhatsApp, Telegram, and other messaging apps to impersonate ...