This Dangerous Malware Uses Images And Screenshots Saved On Your Phone To Steal Data

Last Updated:July 01, 2025, 12:52 IST

Malware attacks are getting savvier and both Android and iOS devices are at risk because of how hackers are able to bypass the stringent security checks.

This dangerous malware can scan through the photos saved on your phone

There is a new malware threat for Android and iOS users and this one is scary because it tries to steal data from images and screenshots saved on your phone. The details about SparkKitty have been shared by Kaspersky that first spotted the malware back in January this year. We have seen malware of different nature over the years, and the use of AI is making security experts worried about the advancement of the attacks and how they can bypass stringent checks.

It seems SparkKitty is showing us the mirror and the scary future of these malware threats, especially when it can clear strict security settings with ease. 

SparkKitty Malware Attacks Everyone 

The malware, according to Kaspersky, uses optical character recognition to scan through photos and screenshots on the infected phone. The security firm suggests that SparkKitty has been distributed across Android and Apple App stores since February 2024 and the malicious apps have been removed from both the app stores. 

It seems the malware was mostly disguised as crypto wallet apps that offered trading and other features. People installed the apps thinking they are genuine but inadvertently have the malware the access to scan through the phone’s gallery and other content to inflict serious damage. 

Even though the affected apps have been removed, it is certain that users need to be wary about the apps they download, where they install it from and other security measures to keep their devices and data safe. Even within the Play Store, you should check for the details of the app developer and see if their credentials are genuine. 

The Never Ending Concern

Because Google finds it tough to be alert about these malicious apps, people have to always be mindful of the permissions the apps seek and manually disable where certain features are not needed. 

Besides the SparkKitty threat, you’ve also had to contend with Godfather alert and its new version is even more worrying. The biggest worry is that any regular login that you make for your banking apps can be captured by the attacker. The first instance of the new Godfather malware was detected when Turkish banks were targeted by the attackers.

The biggest concern with the new malware version is that it can mimic your actions, which makes it tough for the detection tools to raise any alarm bells. Even the user is caught unaware because of how slyly the whole act takes place.

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Delhi, India, India

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