{
	"id": "d537d061-bae2-499a-898d-64b7090ffe89",
	"created_at": "2026-04-06T00:21:36.742683Z",
	"updated_at": "2026-04-10T03:30:33.427366Z",
	"deleted_at": null,
	"sha1_hash": "20077364558359c34882054519058b2871af7073",
	"title": "First clipper malware discovered on Google Play",
	"llm_title": "",
	"authors": "",
	"file_creation_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
	"file_modification_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
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	"plain_text": "First clipper malware discovered on Google Play\r\nBy Lukas Stefanko\r\nArchived: 2026-04-05 13:51:19 UTC\r\nESET Research\r\nCryptocurrency stealers that replace a wallet address in the clipboard are no longer limited to Windows or shady\r\nAndroid app stores\r\n08 Feb 2019  •  , 2 min. read\r\nFor security reasons, addresses of online cryptocurrency wallets are composed of long strings of characters.\r\nInstead of typing them, users tend to copy and paste the addresses using the clipboard. A type of malware, known\r\nas a “clipper”, takes advantage of this. It intercepts the content of the clipboard and replaces it surreptitiously with\r\nwhat the attacker wants to subvert. In the case of a cryptocurrency transaction, the affected user might end up with\r\nthe copied wallet address quietly switched to one belonging to the attacker.\r\nThis dangerous form of malware first made its rounds in 2017 on the Windows platform and was spotted in shady\r\nAndroid app stores in the summer of 2018. In February 2019, we discovered a malicious clipper on Google Play,\r\nthe official Android app store.\r\nAlthough relatively new, cryptocurrency stealers that rely on altering the clipboard’s content can be considered\r\nestablished malware. ESET researchers even discovered one hosted on download.cnet.com, one of the most\r\nhttps://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/02/08/first-clipper-malware-google-play/\r\nPage 1 of 4\n\npopular software-hosting sites in the world. In August 2018, the first Android clipper was discovered being sold\r\non underground hacking forums and since then, this malware has been detected in several shady app stores.\r\nCopy\u0026Steal\r\nThe clipper we found lurking in the Google Play store, detected by ESET security solutions as Android/Clipper.C,\r\nimpersonates a legitimate service called MetaMask. The malware's primary purpose is to steal the victim’s\r\ncredentials and private keys to gain control over the victim’s Ethereum funds. However, it can also replace a\r\nBitcoin or Ethereum wallet address copied to the clipboard with one belonging to the attacker.\r\nFigure 1. Android/Clipper.C impersonating MetaMask on Google Play\r\nWe spotted Android/Clipper.C shortly after it had been introduced at the official Android store, which was on\r\nFebruary 1, 2019. We reported the discovery to the Google Play security team, who removed the app from the\r\nhttps://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/02/08/first-clipper-malware-google-play/\r\nPage 2 of 4\n\nStore.\r\nThis attack targets users who want to use the mobile version of the MetaMask service, which is designed to run\r\nEthereum decentralized apps in a browser, without having to run a full Ethereum node. However, the service\r\ncurrently does not offer a mobile app – only add-ons for desktop browsers such as Chrome and Firefox.\r\nSeveral malicious apps have been caught previously on Google Play impersonating MetaMask. However, they\r\nmerely phished for sensitive information with the goal of accessing the victims’ cryptocurrency funds.\r\nSecurity tips\r\nThis first appearance of clipper malware on Google Play serves as another imperative for Android users to stick\r\nwith the best practices for mobile security.\r\nTo stay safe from clippers and other Android malware, we advise you to:\r\nKeep your Android device updated and use a reliable mobile security solution\r\nStick to the official Google Play store when downloading apps…\r\n…however, always check the official website of the app developer or service provider for the link to the\r\nofficial app. If there is not one, consider it a red flag and be extremely cautious to any result of your\r\nGoogle Play search\r\nDouble-check every step in all transactions that involve anything valuable, from sensitive information to\r\nmoney. When using the clipboard, always check if what you pasted is what you intended to enter.\r\nIndicators of Compromise (IoCs)\r\nPackage Name Hash\r\ncom.lemon.metamask 24D7783AAF34884677A601D487473F88\r\nBTC address: 17M66AG2uQ5YZLFEMKGpzbzh4F1EsFWkmA\r\nETH address: 0xfbbb2EF692B5101f16d3632f836461904C761965\r\nLet us keep you\r\nup to date\r\nSign up for our newsletters\r\nhttps://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/02/08/first-clipper-malware-google-play/\r\nPage 3 of 4\n\nSource: https://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/02/08/first-clipper-malware-google-play/\r\nhttps://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/02/08/first-clipper-malware-google-play/\r\nPage 4 of 4",
	"extraction_quality": 1,
	"language": "EN",
	"sources": [
		"MITRE",
		"Malpedia"
	],
	"references": [
		"https://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/02/08/first-clipper-malware-google-play/"
	],
	"report_names": [
		"first-clipper-malware-google-play"
	],
	"threat_actors": [
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			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:04.878798Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Safe",
			"aliases": [],
			"source_name": "ETDA:Safe",
			"tools": [
				"DebugView",
				"LZ77",
				"OpenDoc",
				"SafeDisk",
				"TypeConfig",
				"UPXShell",
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			"created_at": "2024-11-01T02:00:52.756877Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:05.273746Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Play",
			"aliases": null,
			"source_name": "MITRE:Play",
			"tools": [
				"Nltest",
				"AdFind",
				"PsExec",
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			"source_id": "MITRE",
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	"ts_created_at": 1775434896,
	"ts_updated_at": 1775791833,
	"ts_creation_date": 0,
	"ts_modification_date": 0,
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