Malicious Apps from Google PlayStore Bypassing SMS-Based Two-Factor Authentication and Steal OTPs in SMS

From gbhackers.com

Malicious Apps from Google PlayStore Bypassing SMS-Based Two-Factor Authentication and Steal OTPs in SMS

Researchers discovered new malicious Android apps from Google Play Store bypassing SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) mechanisms and steal the OTP without SMS’s permission.

Google recently restrict other apps to use of high risk or sensitive permissions, including the SMS or Call Log in March 2019 that leads malware and credentials stealing apps lost its permissions.

Newly uncovered malicious apps using a novel technique to bypassing SMS 2FA messages without using SMS permissions, eventually steal the OTP by evading the new permission restriction.

Threat actors also using the technique to obtain OTPs from some email-based 2FA systems.

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