From OS vulnerabilities to ransomware assaults, Android gadgets proceed to face quite a lot of safety dangers. As quickly as Google fixes one downside, one other risk comes alongside.
Information safety is of utmost significance in enterprise organizations. To shield cell gadgets in these environments, IT should perceive the safety weaknesses of various cell OSes. The Android ecosystem’s distinctive structure requires a distinct strategy than one other OS does. An efficient safety technique considers the dangers related to the gadgets it is addressing.
Cellular directors ought to constantly replace themselves on the latest Android safety threats. Armed with the most recent data, they’ll rapidly push out safety patches and guarantee their customers and knowledge are safe.
Understanding Android’s safety challenges
The Android OS has some key structure variations from Apple’s iOS, and these variations have an effect on safety. Whereas Apple’s ecosystem is a walled backyard, Android is open supply. The OS can run on gadgets from many alternative distributors, every with its personal potential options and practices.
This framework creates each alternatives and challenges for enterprise safety. Not like closed ecosystems, Android’s open supply basis lets machine producers customise the OS. The downside is that it results in vital fragmentation throughout the Android ecosystem.
{Hardware} and software program fragmentation
Android fragmentation creates a number of safety challenges for organizations. The platform’s open supply nature has led to hundreds of distinctive machine configurations throughout lots of of producers worldwide. This variety creates advanced safety administration challenges for enterprise IT groups. Model fragmentation compounds these points. Newer Android variations typically take months or years to achieve widespread adoption. Many gadgets proceed operating older software program variations which may lack present safety protections.
Producer modifications
An open supply ecosystem allows fast innovation but in addition creates safety complexities. Google maintains the Android Open Supply Challenge (AOSP) codebase, which builders use to construct upon the OS and make customizations. Nonetheless, producers can add proprietary modifications that find yourself introducing vulnerabilities or delaying safety updates.
Current main Android safety threats
In recent times, safety researchers have discovered a number of Android assault vectors. Present threats to pay attention to embrace zero-day vulnerabilities, banking Trojan horses, NFC relay assaults and business spy ware.
Android continues to be a chief goal for zero-day vulnerabilities.
Notable zero-day flaws from the previous few years embrace the next:
CVE-2024-43093. A privilege escalation flaw enabling unauthorized entry to delicate Android directories.
CVE-2024-50302. A Linux kernel vulnerability that enabled Serbian authorities to unlock activist gadgets utilizing Cellebrite forensic instruments.
CVE-2024-36971. A Linux kernel vulnerability that enabled distant code execution assaults.
Banking Trojans
Trojan horses that attempt to steal monetary accounts have been notably energetic in opposition to Android. One of the prevalent variants is the TsarBot banking Trojan, which emerged in March 2025. The malware makes use of an overlay assault to focus on over 750 banking and cryptocurrency purposes globally.
Phishing web sites unfold the malware whereas posing as reliable monetary portals. TsarBot requires the consumer to allow accessibility providers on their machine, then deploys superior methods — together with display screen recording, SMS interception to bypass authentication, keylogging and credential harvesting. The malware establishes WebSocket connections to command-and-control servers, enabling attackers to manage the machine remotely. Hackers can then steal knowledge and execute fraudulent transactions with out the consumer’s data.
NFC relay assaults
Android gadgets use near-field communication (NFC) for contactless cost. In April 2025, a brand new risk vector emerged with SuperCard X malware, which allows contactless cost fraud by way of NFC relay assaults.
On this assault, the hacker makes use of social engineering techniques to get the sufferer to put in an app on their machine. The app comprises the SuperCard X malware. As soon as the sufferer faucets their credit score or debit card in opposition to their machine’s NFC reader, the hacker receives the cardboard particulars and might use them for unauthorized transactions at ATMs and point-of-sale terminals.
Business spy ware
Business spy ware expertise has additionally been very energetic in recent times. In early 2024, Google’s Risk Evaluation Group launched an in depth report outlining the rising threat. The report, titled “Shopping for Spying: Insights into Business Surveillance Distributors,” notes that the business spy ware trade largely focuses on focusing on cell gadgets.
In keeping with the report, the Risk Evaluation Group tracks roughly 40 spy ware distributors actively growing surveillance instruments for Android gadgets. It additionally discovered that these distributors have been liable for half of recognized zero-day exploits in opposition to Google merchandise and Android gadgets.
Unhealthy actors will pay these distributors for surveillance software program and exploit chains to spy on a number of gadgets. Examples embrace Cy4Gate, Intellexa and NSO Group, the seller behind Pegasus spy ware.
What can IT do to maintain observe of the most recent Android safety threats?
Getting forward of cell assaults requires risk intelligence and proactive monitoring. Use the next assets to remain on high of potential vulnerabilities:
Google’s Android safety bulletins present month-to-month updates on patched vulnerabilities and safety enhancements.
The Android enterprise safety hub delivers safety reviews and whitepapers, together with enterprise-specific steerage and greatest practices.
Google Play Shield offers data for builders, OEMs and customers to assist them perceive how the service secures Android gadgets.
Moreover, IT groups ought to embrace risk detection of their administration practices. Conducting common safety audits and implementing instruments similar to MDM and cell risk protection assist tackle malicious makes an attempt in actual time.
Editor’s notice:This text was initially written by Robert Sheldon in February 2020. Sean Michael Kerner wrote an up to date model in August 2025.
Sean Michael Kerner is an IT marketing consultant, expertise fanatic and tinkerer. He has pulled Token Ring, configured NetWare and been recognized to compile his personal Linux kernel. He consults with trade and media organizations on expertise points.
Robert Sheldon is a contract expertise author. He has written quite a few books, articles and coaching supplies on a variety of subjects, together with massive knowledge, generative AI, 5D reminiscence crystals, the darkish internet and the eleventh dimension.
