Back to all threats

GoldFactory Hits Southeast Asia with Modified Banking Apps Driving 11,000+ Infections

The Hacker News
Actively Exploited

Summary

GoldFactory, a financially motivated cybercriminal group, has launched new attacks targeting mobile users in Southeast Asia, specifically Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. They are distributing modified banking applications that serve as conduits for Android malware, leading to over 11,000 infections since October 2024, posing significant risks to users' financial security.

Original Article Summary

Cybercriminals associated with a financially motivated group known as GoldFactory have been observed staging a fresh round of attacks targeting mobile users in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam by impersonating government services. The activity, observed since October 2024, involves distributing modified banking applications that act as a conduit for Android malware, Group-IB said in a technical

Impact

Modified banking applications for Android, particularly targeting users in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In the Wild

Yes

Timeline

Ongoing since October 2024

Remediation

Users are advised to avoid downloading applications from unofficial sources and to verify the authenticity of any banking applications before installation.

Related Coverage

Google Brings AirDrop Compatibility to Android’s Quick Share Using Rust-Hardened Security

The Hacker News

Google has updated its Quick Share service to enable compatibility with Apple's AirDrop, facilitating easier file sharing between Android and iPhone devices. This feature is currently available for the Pixel 10 lineup and is expected to expand to other devices in the future.

Nov 21, 2025

CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog

All CISA Advisories

CISA has added CVE-2025-13223, a Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion Vulnerability, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog due to evidence of active exploitation. This vulnerability poses significant risks to federal enterprises, prompting CISA to urge timely remediation by all organizations to mitigate potential cyberattacks.

Nov 19, 2025

⚡ Weekly Recap: Fortinet Exploit, Chrome 0-Day, BadIIS Malware, Record DDoS, SaaS Breach & More

The Hacker News

This week, significant cybersecurity threats emerged as hackers exploited new 0-day vulnerabilities in Fortinet and Chrome, infiltrating supply chains and SaaS tools. The rapid response from major companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google highlights the severity of these attacks and the ongoing challenges in securing trusted applications and software updates.

Nov 24, 2025

​​Spyware Allows Cyber Threat Actors to Target Users of Messaging Applications​

All CISA Advisories

CISA has identified that various cyber threat actors are using commercial spyware to target users of mobile messaging applications, employing tactics such as phishing, zero-click exploits, and impersonation. The focus is primarily on high-value individuals including government and military officials, indicating a serious threat to sensitive communications.

Nov 24, 2025

HashJack Attack Uses URL ‘#’ to Control AI Browser Behavior

Hackread – Cybersecurity News, Data Breaches, Tech, AI, Crypto and More

Cato Networks has identified a new vulnerability known as HashJack, which exploits the '#' symbol in URLs to execute malicious commands in AI browsers. While Microsoft and Perplexity have addressed this flaw, Google's Gemini remains vulnerable, highlighting a significant risk for users of that platform.

Nov 29, 2025

Google fixes Android vulnerabilities “under targeted exploitation” (CVE-2025-48633, CVE-2025-48572)

Help Net Security

Google has addressed 51 vulnerabilities in Android, including two high-severity flaws (CVE-2025-48633 and CVE-2025-48572) that are potentially under targeted exploitation. Both vulnerabilities impact the Android Framework, which is essential for app development, and could allow malicious applications to access sensitive information.

Dec 2, 2025