How Does AhMyth Work?
The AhMyth mobile malware spreads itself through a wide range of vectors. Its primary infection method is via deceptive mobile apps that impersonate screen recorders, YouTube downloaders, dating apps, cryptocurrency apps, and games like Minecraft. However, it can also spread via phishing emails and infected or malicious websites.
Once installed on a device, the malware requests various permissions, including some that enable it to persist across a reboot. The malware communicates with a command-and-control (C2) server and executes commands as well as stealing and exfiltrating sensitive information via various means, including:
- Keylogging
- Screen capture
- Camera access
- Microphone access
- Access to phone and SMS messages
- Geolocation
The AhMyth malware steals passwords and other sensitive information. It especially focuses on banking and cryptocurrency credentials, one-time passwords (OTPs) sent via SMS for multi-factor authentication (MFA), and screenshots that can steal sensitive information.
The Uses of AhMyth
AhMyth is an example of a RAT that requests a wide range of permissions on infected Android devices. This allows it to collect sensitive data from a variety of different sources, including photographs, keylogging, microphone access, and more.
AhMyth’s primary use is collecting this information for the use of the cybercriminal operating the malware. Credentials exfiltrated by the app can be used to steal money from bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets. Additionally, the malware can take photographs and audio recordings that could be used for blackmail or other malicious purposes.
How to Protect Against AhMyth Malware
AhMyth is malware that spreads through a few different infection vectors and uses various means to collect and exfiltrate sensitive information from infected devices. Some of the ways that companies can help to protect themselves and their employees against the AhMyth threat include the following:
- Employee Training: Like many types of malware, AhMyth typically gains a foothold on a user’s devices using trickery. Teaching employees about the risks of malicious mobile apps and how to identify phishing emails and malicious websites can reduce the risk of infection.
- Mobile Device Management (MDM): MDM solutions enable companies to manage the apps that can be installed on company-owned mobile devices. This can help to prevent employees from installing suspicious or inappropriate applications that may contain malicious or undesirable functionality.
- Mobile Security: AhMyth is a malware variant that targets Android devices. Mobile security solutions can help to identify and block malicious apps from being installed on a user’s devices, reducing the potential risk of infection.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): AhMyth steals sensitive information from users’ devices, including login credentials. MFA can make it more difficult for attackers to make use of these credentials by requiring multiple authentication factors to log into a user’s account. However, since AhMyth can intercept and exfiltrate SMS-distributed OTPs, it’s important to use a more secure form of MFA.
- Web Security: AhMyth can infect mobile devices via malicious downloads from infected or malicious websites. Web security solutions can provide protection in the browser to prevent users from downloading suspicious or malicious files to their devices.
AhMyth Malware Detection and Protection with Check Point
AhMyth is an Android malware variant that operates as a RAT. It can steal a wide range of sensitive information from infected devices with a focus on stealing login credentials for financial and cryptocurrency sites.
However, AhMyth is one of many malware threats faced by companies and their employees. Additionally, companies are exposed to a wide range of other cyber threats and risks beyond the potential threat of malware infections. To learn more about the current cyber threat landscape and how companies can effectively manage their exposure to modern cyber threats, check out Check Point’s 2023 Cyber Security Report.
Check Point offers solutions that enable companies to protect all of their devices, including mobile devices. Check Point Harmony Endpoint offers robust endpoint threat prevention and can help organizations to manage and secure the mobile devices that have access to corporate networks and resources via a bring your own device (BYOD) program or that are owned and operated by the organization. To learn more about how Harmony Endpoint can make mobile security an integrated part of your organization’s cybersecurity architecture, feel free to sign up for a free demo today.
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