South Korea

The Android ecosystem has seen a significant rise in malicious applications, with over 40 million harmful apps downloaded from Google Play between June 2024 and May 2025. There has been a 67% year-over-year increase in malware targeting mobile devices, particularly spyware and banking trojans. Cybercriminals are shifting tactics from card fraud to mobile payment exploitation, employing phishing, smishing, SIM-swapping, and payment scams. Banking malware transactions reached 4.89 million in 2025, with a slowed growth rate of 3%. Malicious applications increased from 200 to 239, totaling 42 million downloads, with adware now accounting for 69% of all detections. Spyware has surged by 220% year-over-year, with India, the U.S., and Canada being the most affected countries. Notable malware families include Anatsa, which targets financial institutions, Android Void (Vo1d), which affects Android TV boxes, and Xnotice, which targets job seekers. IoT devices, particularly routers, are also being exploited, with the majority of attacks occurring in the U.S. Zscaler recommends implementing security measures such as regular updates, trusting reputable publishers, and adopting zero-trust technology for organizations.