NFC technology

Researchers at zLabs have identified over 760 malicious Android applications that exploit Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to steal banking credentials and facilitate fraudulent transactions. This cybercrime campaign has expanded from isolated incidents in April 2024 to a widespread operation targeting financial institutions in countries including Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Brazil. The malware utilizes social engineering tactics by impersonating around 20 legitimate banking institutions and government services, such as VTB Bank, Tinkoff Bank, and the Central Bank of Russia. The malware ecosystem is supported by over 70 command-and-control servers and private Telegram channels for data exfiltration. Attackers deceive victims into granting dangerous NFC permissions, allowing the malware to intercept payment data during contactless transactions. Some campaigns use paired applications for data extraction and fraudulent purchases, while others focus solely on data exfiltration. The malware maintains communication with its command-and-control infrastructure, enabling real-time relay attacks to conduct transactions using victims' payment credentials. The rapid spread of this NFC-based payment malware highlights the adaptability of cybercriminals as contactless payment technologies become more common. Financial institutions are urged to enhance fraud detection systems, mobile device manufacturers should tighten NFC permission controls, and users are advised to be cautious when granting NFC access to applications.