News

Pakistani officials targeted by malware apps according to report

Blackberry, the Canadian security company previously famous for its mobile phones, released a report on Wednesday detailing attempts of espionage against Pakistani government and military officials. The report says the espionage was carried out via Android apps loaded with malware. The main purpose of the attack was to retrieve sensitive data which could be used to a strategic advantage by whoever ordered the malware attacks.

Blackberry hasn’t been able to pinpoint who exactly carried out the espionage campaign, but it says it is likely to involve state sponsored hacking groups based on the targets of the campaign. The apps included in the attack are quite varied. For example, one of the apps, called the ‘Ansar Foundation’, tries to copy a disaster relief organization. Similarly, there is a fake dating chat service, a Kashmir news service, and even a pornography app. As a Blackberry official Brian Robison puts it, “I don’t think we saw examples where they were targeting specific individuals. It was more of a broad stroke.” The apps weren’t made available on conventional app stores. Instead, the malicious software was distributed through other means, such as WhatsApp messages and emails.

The report also mentions that Pakistan is not the only country suffering from such malware campaigns. Rather, these kinds of espionage activity have become somewhat of a trend around the world, with hackers being used to further political and strategic for certain countries. This report serves to remind us that our smartphones may not be as secure as we are led to believe and that nefarious forces may be in play on something as simple as a WhatsApp message we forward without giving a second thought.

Sponsored
Taha Abdullah

Share
Published by
Taha Abdullah

Recent Posts

Rumors Indicate iPhone 17 May Feature Unconventional Camera Design

Apple is reportedly preparing for a significant design overhaul with its iPhone 17 series, blending…

10 hours ago

First AI-Powered Teacher Launched in Pakistan’s Private School

Karachi: A private school in Karachi has unveiled Pakistan’s first AI-powered teacher, a groundbreaking move…

12 hours ago

Yahoo Surprises Users with Its Latest Android Launcher

Third-party apps have long been a staple of the Android ecosystem, but their appeal has…

13 hours ago

Phase-II Review of PTCL-Telenor Deal Finalized by CCP

ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has completed its Phase-II review of Pakistan Telecommunication…

13 hours ago

Xiaomi’s SU7 Achieves New Production Record, Driving Q3 Growth

Xiaomi has shattered records by producing 100,000 vehicles in just 230 days. This is nearly…

15 hours ago

Teachers Can Now Access OpenAI’s Free AI Course

OpenAI, in collaboration with nonprofit organization Common Sense Media, announced on Wednesday the launch of…

16 hours ago