Android threats rise sharply, with mobile malware jumping by 151% since start of year

Malwarebytes warns that the Android threat landscape in early 2025 has escalated into coordinated, monetized campaigns: overall Android malware rose 151%, spyware 147%, and SMS-based malware spiked 692%. Attackers are using smishing, PDF phishing, fake financial and predatory loan apps, and both official and sideloaded distribution to scale theft and data-harvesting operations; the report urges device updates, avoidance of sideloading, careful permission management, and use of mobile security tools.