New Android malware uses AI to steal bank logins and PINs

Researchers at Zimperium’s zLabs have analyzed an Android Trojan that uses an automated, multi-stage infection process.

What’s new is that RatHat gives a live AI assistant the keys to the accessibility tree of the infected device and uses it to determine where to tap or scroll, rather than following a hardcoded script.

The variable attack path makes it harder for signature- and rule-based mobile security tools to detect this Trojan.

It also abuses Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a legitimate tool that lets a computer communicate with an Android device. By turning on Wireless Debugging, RatHat can escape the normal app sandbox.

The attack

The infection chain is unusually elaborate for a mobile threat, combining social engineering, accessibility abuse, and remote AI decision-making into a single pipeline.