Monday, February 10, 2025
HomespywarePJobRAT Disguised as Android Dating App Steals Contacts, SMS & GPS data

PJobRAT Disguised as Android Dating App Steals Contacts, SMS & GPS data

Published on

SIEM as a Service

Follow Us on Google News

In the recent era, hackers are constantly evolving and using their techniques to execute new attack vectors to target users from different sectors across the globe, as reported by the security researchers at Cyble.

The spyware campaign that currently uncovered mainly targeting the Indian military personnel, and since January 2021 this campaign has been active.

The cybersecurity experts of Cyble along with 360 Core Security Lab have recently detected the PJobRAT spyware in dating and instant messaging apps. Not only that even, the analysts have also claimed that the spyware samples disguised themselves as Android dating apps.

Since December 2019 the recent version of PJobRAT spyware has been around, as reported by the researchers at 360 Core Security Lab.

While during their investigation they detected that for Non-resident Indians this recent variant is disguising as a famous dating app known as “Trendbanter,” and mimicking the instant messaging app, Signal as well.

Data collected by PJobRAT via fake apps

  • Contacts
  • SMSes
  • GPS data

Other apps used

In some cases, the researchers have identified that it also imitate other apps as well, and here they are mentioned below:-

  • HangOn
  • SignalLite
  • Rita
  • Ponam

Moreover, through different medium and third-party app stores, the threat actors accomplish their distribution goals in which they distribute all these spyware.

While the experts have asserted that to hide in the app list, it imitates WhatsApp or any genuine-looking app. But, the most bizarre thing is that it doesn’t even match the icon shown in the app store with the installed one.

Types of Documents it Exfiltrates

The types of documents that it able to exfiltrate from the infected device are mentioned below:-

  • .pdf
  • .doc
  • .docx
  • .xls
  • .xlsx
  • .ppt
  • .pptx

The complete list of abilities of PJobRAT spyware is mentioned below:-

  • Upload address book
  • Upload SMS
  • Upload audio files
  • Upload video file
  • Upload image file
  • Upload a list of installed apps
  • Upload a list of external storage files
  • Upload WiFi and GPS information 
  • Upload geographic location
  • Update phone number
  • Recording via the mic or camera
  • Upload WhatsApp contacts and messages

In terms of its code, the spyware remains the same, and not only that even it also interacts with the same infrastructure as well. 

But, the analysts have affirmed that the threat actors behind this spyware are not so sophisticated, since their private servers are publicly accessible in which they hold the exfiltrated data.

The security researchers at 360 Core Security Lab has concluded that the threat actors behind PJobRAT spyware could be Chinese or Pakistani hackers, and that’s why their primary goal was to spy on Indian military personnel.

You can follow us on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook for daily Cybersecurity and hacking news updates.

Balaji
Balaji
BALAJI is an Ex-Security Researcher (Threat Research Labs) at Comodo Cybersecurity. Editor-in-Chief & Co-Founder - Cyber Security News & GBHackers On Security.

Latest articles

NetSupport RAT Grant Attackers Full Access to Victims Systems

The eSentire Threat Response Unit (TRU) has reported a significant rise in incidents involving...

Quishing via QR Codes Emerging as a Top Attack Vector Used by Hackers

QR codes, once a symbol of convenience and security in digital interactions, have become...

New ‘BYOTB’ Attack Exploits Trusted Binaries to Evade Detection, Researchers Reveal

A recent cybersecurity presentation at BSides London 2024 has unveiled a sophisticated attack technique...

SAML Bypass Authentication on GitHub Enterprise Servers to Login as Other User Account

A severe security vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-23369, has been identified in GitHub Enterprise Server...

Supply Chain Attack Prevention

Free Webinar - Supply Chain Attack Prevention

Recent attacks like Polyfill[.]io show how compromised third-party components become backdoors for hackers. PCI DSS 4.0’s Requirement 6.4.3 mandates stricter browser script controls, while Requirement 12.8 focuses on securing third-party providers.

Join Vivekanand Gopalan (VP of Products – Indusface) and Phani Deepak Akella (VP of Marketing – Indusface) as they break down these compliance requirements and share strategies to protect your applications from supply chain attacks.

Discussion points

Meeting PCI DSS 4.0 mandates.
Blocking malicious components and unauthorized JavaScript execution.
PIdentifying attack surfaces from third-party dependencies.
Preventing man-in-the-browser attacks with proactive monitoring.

More like this

Paragon Spyware Allegedly Ends Spyware Contract with Italy

Paragon Solutions, an Israeli cybersecurity firm, has reportedly ended its spyware contract with Italy.The...

WhatsApp Wins NSO in Pegasus Spyware Hacking Lawsuit After 5 Years

After a prolonged legal battle stretching over five years, WhatsApp has triumphed over NSO...

Spyware App Found Running on Multiple US Hotel Check-In Computers

A consumer-grade spyware app named pcTattletale has been discovered running on the check-in systems...