Description

A malicious financial application named RapiPlata has compromised the privacy of more than 150,000 users across Google Play and the Apple App Store. Disguised as a legitimate lending service primarily targeting Colombian users, the app quickly rose to a Top 20 ranking in Colombia’s finance category on SimilarWeb. Despite being removed from official app stores by March 2025, RapiPlata continues to spread via deceptive third-party websites that mimic official download platforms. Detected in February 2025 by Harmony Mobile’s AI engine, the app was exposed for aggressively harvesting sensitive data, including SMS messages, call logs, calendar entries, and lists of installed applications, all transmitted to remote servers without proper consent. Investigations revealed RapiPlata as part of a broader SpyLoan malware network, with ties to the previously banned app Préstamo Rápido, which had been active since August 2022. Under the guise of assessing creditworthiness, RapiPlata exploited device permissions to scan SMS content for keywords, track user behavior, and collect private communications. The app indiscriminately uploaded entire inboxes and calendars, using excuses like payment reminders to mask its real intent. On iOS devices, this exfiltrated data posed a serious risk to personal and corporate security, exposing authentication codes, business meetings, and even Zoom links to potential attackers. Victims reported receiving coercive messages and threats falsely accusing them of unpaid loans, sent directly to their contacts in a bid to extract payments. This highlights the app’s predatory nature and the sophistication of its evasion tactics—such as minimal VirusTotal detection and frequent updates to bypass security tools. Users are strongly advised to avoid unverified financial apps and adopt comprehensive mobile security solutions like Check Point’s Harmony Mobile, which can detect and block such evolving threats in real time.