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Android malware is now becoming capable of using AI and hiding its identity to target its victims.
This new Android malware is targeting users in the AI era
There is a new Android malware in town which is capable of degrading the performance of your phone if it manages to bypass the security levels and enter your device. Most of them attack your device for personal data or for spying purposes but this new version has a different motive and it uses AI in a very unique form to affect the users.
What if we tell you that malware is capable of slowing down your phone just by clicking on ads and you can’t even tell when that happens? Yes, that seems to be the new trick up the sleeves of the new malware.
AI-Based Malware Target Ads
The details about the new malware using AI to click on targeted ads has been shared in a report by Dr. Web. Researchers have not exactly warned about possible attacks on victims but this new malware is capable of doing things in the hidden that affects your device in other ways. We don’t know the source of the malware but it is dynamic in the way it interacts with the ads and it detects the content when they show up on the screen via the website or apps.
The malware is being spread through Android apps, the researchers have mentioned, and some of them have been spotted in Xiaomi’s GetApps app store and other third-party stores that people have to sideload on their Android device to use.
How does this affect your phone? When you have malware targeting the background nature of your device, it invariably takes a toll on the battery life, or even slows down the performance.
These intrusions are mostly blamed on users either installing apps from unknown sources or sideloading them from third-party APK files. Google is clearly looking to prevent those actions and its Play Protect feature promises to help people remain safe.
And once again installing modded apps or APK files from unknown sources should be completely avoided. You should also keep the phone updated to the latest version of Android or its security patch. The AI-based threats are only going to get stronger and people need to be vigilant about their activity on the internet.
California, USA
January 26, 2026, 11:18 IST
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