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ClayRat Android spyware targeting Russian users

Malware Activity
First reported
Last updated
Happening score
H score 33
2 unique sources, 2 articles

Summary

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ClayRat is an Android spyware campaign targeting users in Russia through Telegram channels and phishing websites that impersonate popular apps such as WhatsApp, TikTok, Google Photos, and YouTube. Once installed, the malware can steal SMS messages, call logs, notifications, device information, contacts, and front-camera photos. It can also send SMS messages, place calls, and propagate by sending malicious links to contacts. The campaign appears to be rapidly evolving, with more than 600 samples and 50 droppers identified over roughly three months. Some droppers use a fake Play Store update screen to help bypass newer Android installation friction, and findings were shared with Google to support protection through Play Protect.

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Latest development: 29.05.2026 00:10

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Timeline

  1. 09.10.2025 18:30 2 articles · 8mo ago

    ClayRat targets Android users in Russia

    Initial Disclosure

    ClayRat is a rapidly evolving Android spyware campaign targeting users in Russia through Telegram channels and lookalike phishing sites that impersonate WhatsApp, Google Photos, TikTok, and YouTube. The malware can exfiltrate SMS messages, call logs, notifications, and device information, take photos with the front camera, place calls, send SMS messages, request default-SMS access, and propagate by sending malicious links to contacts. Some samples act as droppers with a fake Play Store update screen, and Zimperium says it has identified 600 samples and 50 droppers over the last 90 days.

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  2. 09.10.2025 15:30 2 articles · 8mo ago

    ClayRat spyware targets Russian Android users

    Initial Disclosure

    ClayRat is a rapidly evolving Android spyware campaign targeting Russian users through Telegram channels and phishing websites that impersonate WhatsApp, TikTok, Google Photos and YouTube. Researchers identified more than 600 distinct samples and 50 droppers over the past three months, with new obfuscation layers added to evade security tools. The malware abuses Android's default SMS handler role, can read, store and send text messages without alerting users, and can steal SMS messages, call logs, notifications, device identifiers, contact lists and front-camera photos while also sending SMS messages or placing calls from infected devices. Findings were shared with Google to support protection through Google Play Protect.

    Show sources