The Mandrake Android spyware campaign, which was first discovered in 2020, has seemingly made an unwelcome return. In a blog post this week, Kaspersky researchers reported that they found a suspicious sample in the Google Play store this April that appeared to be a new version of the malware. After more digging, they unearthed five Android apps containing the Mandrake malware that had been available on the store for two years. The researchers say that the new Mandrake has been upgraded with layers of obfuscation that allow it to bypass Google Play checks. As a result, threat actors were able to sneak at least five apps onto Google Play containing the malware in 2022. Most of these infected apps were installed fewer than 1,000 times, but the fake file sharing app AirFS was installed over 30,000 times. Even more troublesome, it was available on Google Play until March 2024, at which point it was finally removed. Here's the full list of Mandrake apps that the researchers say were on Google Play for at least a year: AirFS – File sharing via Wi-Fi by it9042 (30,305 downloads) Astro Explorer by shevabad (718 downloads) Amber by kodaslda (19 downloads) CryptoPulsing by shevabad (790 downloads) Brain Matrix by kodaslda (259 downloads) According to Kaspersky, threat actors use Mandrake to steal user credentials and to download and execute next-stage malicious applications. As noted above, the latest version of Mandrake is better at hiding its true intentions from Google Play, which explains how these infected apps were able to sit unnoticed on Google's app store for so long. Two Kaspersky researchers explain: "The Mandrake spyware is evolving dynamically, improving its methods of concealment, sandbox evasion and bypassing new defense mechanisms. After the applications of the first campaign stayed undetected for four years, the current campaign lurked in the shadows for two years, while still available for download on Google Play. This highlights the threat actors’ formidable skills, and also that stricter controls for applications before being published in the markets only translate into more sophisticated, harder-to-detect threats sneaking into official app marketplaces." As Google spokespeople have told us previously, you're protected from threats such as these as long as you have Google Play Protect active on your device. Furthermore, all five of these Android apps are no longer on Google Play. Don't Miss: Google’s 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat leaks ahead of Pixel 9 event The post Thousands of Android users installed these 5 infected apps appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Apple deals for July 2024 Exclusive deal: GEEKOM Mini PC IT12 is 15% off in this post-Prime Day sale Netflix Prime Day deals: 73 ways to upgrade your streaming

The Kojiki, or "Records of Ancient Matters," holds the prestigious title of being Japan's oldest surviving chronicle. Compiled in 712 AD, this amazing text offers a window into the myths, legends, and early history of Japan. Written by Ō no Yasumaro under the commission of Empress Genmei, the Kojiki is a treasure trove of narratives that shape the foundation of Japanese culture and religion. From the divine creation of the Japanese islands to the legendary tales of emperors, the Kojiki provides a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual and political origins of Japan.  The Kojiki - Chronicling Ancient Japan When it comes to a text as ancient as the Kojiki, it can be hard to know what is fact and what is fiction. According to the text’s preface, the Kojiki was commissioned by Empress Genmei in the early 8th century AD, a period when the Japanese court sought to consolidate its power and establish a unified national identity. If true, this would make the Kojiki the oldest extant literary work in Japan. Sumo Wrestling: From Ritual Origins to Honorable Sport Ancient DNA Rewrites Story of Japanese Ancestry Representation of Ō no Yasumaro. (Public Domain) Read moreSection: Ancient WritingsNewsMyths & LegendsAsiaRead Later 

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