Old Threats, Novel Tactics: Android Users Face New AI Security Challenges
ESET, Monday, March 2nd, 2026
ESET Research reveals how cybercriminals have improved their malicious campaigns.
In the current AI era, cyberthreats are evolving so quickly that even blog posts only a few weeks old can become outdated in the blink of an eye. During Black Friday 2025, we wrote about new threats targeting Android users ahead of the shopping season and, oh boy, it looks like it's time to update the list.
Since then, ESET researchers have identified new AI‑powered threats as well as updates to known malware families. These improvements make malicious apps and campaigns significantly harder for both humans and automated systems to detect. Unfortunately, these dangers aren't limited to high-profile government or enterprise targets. Everyday Android users can encounter these threats while browsing the internet or checking social media.