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Necro Trojan Sneaks into Google Play with up to 11m Victims

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In late August 2024, Kaspersky experts identified a new version of the Necro Trojan that had infiltrated several popular applications on Google Play and modified applications on unofficial platforms, including Spotify, WhatsApp and Minecraft.

Necro is an Android downloader that downloads and runs other malicious components on infected devices based on commands issued by the Trojan’s creators. Kaspersky’s solutions recorded* Necro attacks targeting users in Russia, Brazil, Vietnam, Ecuador, and Mexico as part of this malicious campaign.

Capabilities of the Necro Trojan 

The variant of Necro discovered by Kaspersky experts can download modules onto infected smartphones that display ads in invisible windows and click on them, download executable files, install third-party applications, and open arbitrary links in invisible WebView windows to execute JavaScript code.

Based on its technical characteristics, the Trojan is also likely capable of subscribing users to paid services. Additionally, the downloaded modules allow attackers to redirect Internet traffic through the victim’s device. This enables cybercriminals to visit prohibited or desired resources using the victim’s device, potentially utilising it as part of a proxy botnet.

Infected Apps on Unofficial Platforms

The first discovery of Necro by company’s experts was in a modified version of Spotify Plus. The creators of the app claimed that it was safe for devices and offered additional features not found in the official music streaming app.

Subsequently, experts also found a modified version of WhatsApp containing the Necro downloader, followed by infected versions of popular games, including Minecraft, Stumble Guys, and Car Parking Multiplayer. Necro was embedded into these applications via an unverified ad module.

Infected Apps on Google Play

The Necro campaign extended beyond third-party platforms and was also discovered on Google Play. The malicious downloader was found in the Wuta Camera app and Max Browser.

According to Google Play statistics, the combined downloads of these apps exceeded 11 million. On this platform, Necro was also distributed via an unverified ad module. Following Kaspersky’s report to Google, the malicious code was removed from Wuta Camera, and Max Browser was taken down from the store. However, users still risk encountering Necro on unofficial platforms.

“Users often download unofficial, modified apps to bypass restrictions in official applications or to access additional free features. Cybercriminals exploit this behaviour, spreading malware with these apps as there is no moderation on third-party platforms,” comments Dmitry Kalinin, cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky.

“It is also noteworthy that the version of Necro embedded in these applications used steganography techniques, hiding its payload within images to remain undetected – a very rare method for mobile malware.”

 


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E-Business

Galaxy Backbone Celebrates the Federal Government’s Paperless Civil Service Milestone

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Galaxy Backbone (GBB) aligns with and celebrates the successful announcement by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on the achievement of a Paperless Civil Service, a significant milestone in Nigeria’s public sector reform and digital transformation agenda.

The milestone was formally highlighted at a press briefing led by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who commended Galaxy Backbone for its sustained support and contribution throughout the implementation of the programme.

GBB has played a critical role in enabling this transition by providing secure, scalable, and shared digital infrastructure that supports the digitisation of government processes across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Through the 1Government Cloud, MDAs have been empowered to migrate from paper-based workflows to digital platforms, improving efficiency, collaboration, data security, and service delivery across the Federal Civil Service.

In addition, GovMail, GBB’s secure government email platform, has strengthened official communication, enhanced records management, and reinforced cybersecurity standards—key pillars in sustaining a paperless operating environment.

Galaxy Backbone acknowledges the collective efforts of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries, Directors of ICT, consultants, partners, and dedicated public servants whose commitment and collaboration ensured the smooth delivery of this initiative.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, was represented at the press briefing by Akintayo Bamisaye, Acting Group Head, Research, Digital Innovation and Skills Department (RDIS).

GBB describes the achievement as a strong close to 2025 and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Federal Government in building a modern, efficient, and digitally enabled public service.


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Jumia CEO says Black Friday Signals Nigeria’s E-Commerce Maturity

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At the close of 2025, Temidayo Ojo, the CEO of Jumia Nigeria, reflected on a year-end shopping season that points to the growing maturity of the country’s e-commerce market. “Black Friday is no longer a single, short-lived spike in activity,” he said.

“It has become a familiar, anticipated moment in the retail calendar, where consumers shop deliberately and with confidence.”

Preliminary KPIs for the two months ended November 30, 2025, show strong year-on-year growth in both orders and Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), with GMV growth outpacing order growth. This indicates that customers are placing fuller, more considered baskets rather than shopping in fragmented transactions. Nigeria ranked among Jumia Group’s better-performing markets, with engagement remaining steady throughout the Black Friday period rather than spiking briefly and tapering off.

A key factor behind this performance is the growing familiarity of consumers with online shopping. Customers are increasingly leveraging platform features such as saved carts, brand stores, and price comparison tools to plan purchases in advance. This trend suggests that digital commerce is becoming embedded in everyday habits rather than being viewed as a one-off event.

Ojo also highlighted the role of Jumia’s JForce network in connecting digital commerce to local communities. “Our agents are critical to ensuring that customers across Nigeria, including secondary cities and smaller communities, have access to variety, consistent pricing, and reliable delivery,” he said. “During peak periods like Black Friday, JForce agents can respond faster, serve more customers efficiently, and build stronger local relationships. This isn’t just a distribution channel—it’s a pathway to sustainable income and inclusion.”

Reflecting on the overall performance, the CEO concluded: “What we’re seeing this year-end is steady engagement across categories, stronger consumer confidence, and partners like our JForce agents benefiting from increased activity.

“It confirms that Nigeria’s e-commerce ecosystem is maturing, growing in a more structured and resilient way. As the December Holiday Sale continues, we expect these patterns of familiarity, trust, and participation to sustain momentum and drive both commerce and community impact across the country.”


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Galaxy Backbone Tops FG’s Website Performance Ranking

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Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) has been ranked first overall in the 2025 Federal Government Website Performance Scorecard.

Galaxy Backbone Tops FG's Website Performance Ranking

This is a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy.

The ranking, conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), is the definitive benchmark for digital excellence and transparency across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, managing director and CEO of Galaxy Backbone, received the award during a ceremony in Abuja.

He described the feat as a validation of the agency’s“Nigeria First”data sovereignty strategy and its relentless pursuit of service excellence.

This recognition comes as the Federal Government intensifies its push to achieve a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025.

GBB has been the primary architect of this transition through its 1Gov Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platform, which now hosts the operations of almost all federal MDAs.

The award adds to a growing list of accolades for Galaxy Backbone in 2025, following its recent win of the “International Standard Excellence Award for Best IT Service Provider.”

As the central hub for government shared services, GBB’s performance serves as a blueprint for other agencies currently undergoing digital transformation.

With its expanded fiber-optic backbone now covering over 13 states and its secure cloud solutions, Galaxy Backbone remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s vision to become a leading digital nation by the end of the decade.

 


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