Threat actors behind a notorious click-fraud botnet have set their sights on vehicle infotainment modules and are abusing legitimate functionality to spread infections.
August 26, 2026
Botnets are spreading to new avenues, as researchers recently spotted Android malware for the first time targeting car head units, the hardware modules on dashboards that control vehicle communication, entertainment, and information systems.
Kaspersky researchers were monitoring Android threats in June when they found novel malware in an unusual place: the firmware of car head units. The researchers spotted what seemed like a typical head unit app, except for the fact that it lacked a user interface.
An analysis of the app revealed it was actually a multistage malware downloader, one designed to infect head units and spread by abusing a legitimate function.
