{
  "id": 12871956,
  "title": "Thousands of cheap Android phones shipped with ad-fraud malware",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/thousands-of-cheap-android-phones-shipped-with-ad-fraud-malware",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-08T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Record",
    "slug": "the-record",
    "url": "https://therecord.media/cheap-androids-shipped-with-ad-fraud-malware"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Thousands of cheap Android devices have been shipped with ad-fraud malware pre-installed. According to Bitdefender researchers, the malware is present on the phone before the owner switches it on for the first time and cannot be uninstalled.\n\nThe malware was found on low-cost Android phones, but the exact models and number of devices affected have not been specified.\n\nNo further details are available on the scope of the issue or the companies involved in distributing the affected devices.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Android Authority",
        "title": "Some cheap Android phones are shipping with malware baked in",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/some-cheap-android-phones-are-shipping-with-malware-baked-in",
        "published": "2026-10-08T13:00:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "XDA Developers",
        "title": "Old Android phones make better smart home wall panels than any $200 displays",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/old-android-phones-make-better-smart-home-wall-panels-than-any-200",
        "published": "2026-10-08T14:01:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Android Police",
        "title": "Midnight Mimosa malware is preinstalled on cheap Android phones",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/midnight-mimosa-malware-is-preinstalled-on-cheap-android-phones",
        "published": "2026-10-08T16:05:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}