Active Spyware Campaigns Targeting Mobile Messaging Apps and Android Devices
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an alert regarding a surge in sophisticated spyware campaigns targeting users of popular mobile messaging applications such as Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Threat actors are leveraging commercial spyware and remote access trojans (RATs), employing tactics like social engineering, device-linking QR codes, zero-click exploits, and spoofed app versions to compromise high-value individuals, including government officials. Notable campaigns include the use of Android spyware like ProSpy, ToSpy, and ClayRat, as well as the exploitation of vulnerabilities in iOS, WhatsApp, and Samsung devices to deploy malware such as LANDFALL, with the goal of persistent access and data exfiltration.
In a related development, researchers at Certo Software have identified a new Android RAT dubbed RadzaRat, which masquerades as a legitimate file manager app. RadzaRat provides attackers with full remote control over infected devices, supports large-scale file transfers, and features keylogging capabilities to steal sensitive information. Alarmingly, RadzaRat is currently undetectable by all major antivirus solutions and is openly available for download, increasing the risk of widespread abuse. These findings underscore the growing threat posed by advanced spyware and RATs targeting mobile platforms, often bypassing traditional security defenses and exploiting user trust in legitimate-looking applications.
Timeline
Nov 25, 2025
CISA warns of active mobile spyware campaigns targeting messaging app users
CISA issued an alert about active exploitation of commercial spyware and remote access trojans targeting high-value users of Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram. The agency said the campaigns affected government, military, political, and civil society targets across the U.S., Middle East, and Europe and highlighted malware families including ProSpy, ToSpy, ClayRat, and RadzaRat.
Nov 24, 2025
RadzaRat Android spyware campaign disclosed
Reporting disclosed a spyware campaign involving RadzaRat, an Android malware strain disguised as a file manager application to hijack devices. The campaign was presented as part of the broader trend of mobile spyware abusing fake apps and social engineering to compromise targets.
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