MegaFon reports rise in detected smartphone malware

MegaFon says its monitoring system recorded a 34% year-on-year increase in users whose smartphones showed malware during summer 2026, RBC reported. The August increase was 77%.

The company mainly identified Android trojans capable of installing applications without permission, intercepting notifications, providing remote access and stealing personal data. These are figures from the operator’s monitoring, rather than a count of every infected phone in Russia.

Blocked suspicious calls fell year on year by 31% in June, 41% in July and 75% in August. In September, the number was down 3% from August and 73% from a year earlier.

MegaFon also described scammers calling through hijacked messenger accounts. Access was obtained through social engineering, malware or offers to rent an account. Company representative Sergei Khrenov said some scam calls involved persuading people to install spyware disguised as legitimate applications.