Anyone Order Some New Android Spyware?

Beware Cube Call Recorder

Apparently Cube Call Recorder is a very popular app, with over 10,000,000 downloads on Google Play, used to record phone calls on Android phones.  It would seem that either Russia’s Federal Security Service created a modified version of it, or managed to find a hacked version, as a hacked version of the app was discovered on a Russian programmers phone after the FSB took possession of the device for a time.  Since the hacked version definitely exists, it is likely we will start to see it spread.

The legitimate version of the app is simply able to record calls, access information about your contacts and geolocate you when you use the app.   The modified version has significantly more access, it can track you even when the app is closed, send or forward texts without your knowledge, use your camera to take pictures or record video, essentially anything your phone can do it can control.

That’s a rather nasty bag of tricks, so once again be sure of where the apps you install come from and that they are kept up to date!