Midnight Mimosa Malware Found Preinstalled on Low-Cost Android Phones

Bitdefender uncovered 'Midnight Mimosa', system-level malware preinstalled on numerous low-cost MediaTek-based Android phones that bypasses user-facing defenses and Play Protect, silently installs and configures apps, enables ad-fraud and proxyware monetization, and persists in firmware—affecting thousands of devices across 150+ countries and likely requiring firmware replacement or device replacement to remediate.