Apps in Telegram with supposedly free books have started being used to distribute viruses

Russians were warned about the danger of downloading unknown APK files

Attackers have begun using mini-apps in Telegram to distribute files infected with viruses. This was reported by the Directorate for the Organization of the Fight Against the Illegal Use of Information and Communication Technologies (UBK) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Image source Shedevrum

Russians are being offered to launch a Telegram bot with supposedly free e-books. After receiving a download request, the bot provides an APK file for devices running the Android operating system (OS).

If the user downloads the file, fraudsters gain access to confidential data. Experts from the UBK of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation warned that unverified APK files must not be installed on personal gadgets. It is better to use legal e-book distribution services, the directorate added.

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Sources:
TASS
2026-01-04 14:16:29 Updated: 20 Apr 2026 Yuliya Shelkovenko Information Security UBK MVD RF
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