Fake Banking And Social Apps Steal User Data Using .NET MAUI

Android malware spread through new cybercriminal tactics now utilizes Microsoft’s .NET MAUI framework.

The McAfee Mobile Research Team discovered malware attacks that utilize .NET MAUI to evade detection systems which allows deceptive malicious applications to extract user information.

The .NET MAUI framework from Microsoft functions as a replacement for Xamarin to let developers build cross-platform applications that work on Android and iOS systems as well as Windows and macOS platforms.

The replacement technology serves as a tool for criminals who hide their malicious code inside encrypted files which makes detection by antivirus systems challenging.

The research team identified two separate malware campaigns that used .NET MAUI to disguise themselves as a banking application and a social media platform.

The fake banking application directed users from India to provide personal and financial information when they launched the program. Attackers operate a server that receives the sensitive information collected from victims.

The malware remains undetectable by traditional security tools because its harmful code exists within hidden files instead of standard Android components.

The second malware disguises itself as a social media application to deceive users who speak Chinese. The system uses complex multi-layer encryption, which protects its malicious activities and conceals its actual harmful functions.

This malware steals contacts, messages, and photos without alerting security scanners while performing its operations. The malware manipulates Android permission files to fool security scanners, and it encrypts stolen data before attackers can retrieve it.

The malware variants stay undiscovered for extended periods because of their advanced evasion techniques. Security tools become disoriented by excessive obfuscation, such as manipulating permission settings with meaningless code, which confuses security tools and disrupts analysis.

In light of these findings, people who want to avoid becoming victims should exercise extreme caution when downloading mobile applications from unknown sources.