Lukas Stefanko

Lukas Stefanko

Malware Researcher


Education: Masters in Informatic Engineering of the Technical University in Kosice

Highlights of your career? Malware Researcher

Position and history at ESET? Joined ESET as a Malware Researcher in 2011

What malware do you hate the most? Adware and ransomware

Favorite activities? Gym, squash, reading

What is your golden rule for cyberspace? Be reasonably paranoid

Favorite computer game/activity? Elasto Mania


74 articles by Lukas Stefanko

ESET research

NGate Android malware relays NFC traffic to steal cash

NGate Android malware relays NFC traffic to steal cash

ESET research

NGate Android malware relays NFC traffic to steal cash

Android malware discovered by ESET Research relays NFC data from victims’ payment cards, via victims’ mobile phones, to the device of a perpetrator waiting at an ATM

Lukas Stefanko and Jakub Osmani22 Aug 202418 min. read


ESET research

The tap-estry of threats targeting Hamster Kombat players

The tap-estry of threats targeting Hamster Kombat players

ESET research

The tap-estry of threats targeting Hamster Kombat players

ESET researchers have discovered threats abusing the success of the Hamster Kombat clicker game

Lukas Stefanko and Peter Strýček23 Jul 202410 min. read


ESET research

Cursed tapes: Exploiting the EvilVideo vulnerability on Telegram for Android

Cursed tapes: Exploiting the EvilVideo vulnerability on Telegram for Android

ESET research

Cursed tapes: Exploiting the EvilVideo vulnerability on Telegram for Android

ESET researchers discovered a zero-day Telegram for Android exploit that allows sending malicious files disguised as videos

Lukas Stefanko22 Jul 20245 min. read


ESET research

Arid Viper poisons Android apps with AridSpy

Arid Viper poisons Android apps with AridSpy

ESET research

Arid Viper poisons Android apps with AridSpy

ESET researchers discovered Arid Viper espionage campaigns spreading trojanized apps to Android users in Egypt and Palestine

Lukas Stefanko13 Jun 202419 min. read


ESET research

eXotic Visit campaign: Tracing the footprints of Virtual Invaders

eXotic Visit campaign: Tracing the footprints of Virtual Invaders

ESET research

eXotic Visit campaign: Tracing the footprints of Virtual Invaders

ESET researchers uncovered the eXotic Visit espionage campaign that targets users mainly in India and Pakistan with seemingly innocuous apps

Lukas Stefanko10 Apr 202417 min. read


ESET research

VajraSpy: A Patchwork of espionage apps

VajraSpy: A Patchwork of espionage apps

ESET research

VajraSpy: A Patchwork of espionage apps

ESET researchers discovered several Android apps carrying VajraSpy, a RAT used by the Patchwork APT group

Lukas Stefanko01 Feb 202412 min. read


ESET research

Beware of predatory fin(tech): Loan sharks use Android apps to reach new depths

Beware of predatory fin(tech): Loan sharks use Android apps to reach new depths

ESET research

Beware of predatory fin(tech): Loan sharks use Android apps to reach new depths

ESET researchers describe the growth of deceptive loan apps for Android and techniques they use to circumvent Google Play

Lukas Stefanko05 Dec 202321 min. read


ESET research

Unlucky Kamran: Android malware spying on Urdu-speaking residents of Gilgit-Baltistan

Unlucky Kamran: Android malware spying on Urdu-speaking residents of Gilgit-Baltistan

ESET research

Unlucky Kamran: Android malware spying on Urdu-speaking residents of Gilgit-Baltistan

ESET researchers discovered Kamran, previously unknown malware, which spies on Urdu-speaking readers of Hunza News

Lukas Stefanko09 Nov 20239 min. read


ESET research

BadBazaar espionage tool targets Android users via trojanized Signal and Telegram apps

BadBazaar espionage tool targets Android users via trojanized Signal and Telegram apps

ESET research

BadBazaar espionage tool targets Android users via trojanized Signal and Telegram apps

ESET researchers have discovered active campaigns linked to the China-aligned APT group known as GREF, distributing espionage code that has previously targeted Uyghurs

Lukas Stefanko30 Aug 202315 min. read