Image by Camilo Jimenez, from Unsplash
Beware of This Contact on Your Phone, It Might Be Malware
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The dangerous Android malware known as Crocodilus spreads rapidly while gaining increased power.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- New version adds fake contacts like “Bank Support” to victims’ phones.
- Malware now steals cryptocurrency seed phrases using advanced screen analysis.
- Crocodilus uses advanced obfuscation to avoid antivirus detection and analysis.
The banking Trojan known as Crocodilus first appeared in March 2025 when it targeted Turkish users. Security experts at Threat Fabric now confirm that the malware attacks users throughout Europe and South America.
The malware continues to target Turkish users, but its reach now extends to Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and the United States. It presented itself as a browser update to Spanish users through a deceptive campaign.
The latest versions of the Crocodilus malware have introduced concerning capabilities. It adds contacts to your phone under fake names like “Bank Support,” which enables scammers to deceive you through phone calls. Analysts believe the attackers plan to create a phone number with an authentic-sounding name.
The malware now possesses enhanced capabilities to steal cryptocurrency. It uses screen analysis to extract secret recovery phrases (seed phrases), which enables hackers to control your crypto wallets.
Image by CGIAR Climate, from Unsplash
Microsoft-Backed “AI” Was Actually 700 Indian Workers
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
A London artificial intelligence startup valued at $1.5 billion filed for bankruptcy because its “AI” services were actually operated by 700 human engineers in India.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Microsoft-backed Builder.ai promised AI-driven app creation via Natasha platform.
- Most Builder.ai tasks were manual, not AI-powered.
- Builder.io faced backlash due to name confusion with Builder.ai.
The London-based startup Builder.ai received backing from Microsoft and other major investors to market its platform, Natasha, which promised to create apps through artificial intelligence capabilities—starting from design all the way to coding.
A Binance report revealed that most labor at Builder.ai involved human work, while some clerical tasks were performed through general software.
😃 The Natasha neural network turned out to be 700 Indian programmers The startup BuilderAI offered to write any application, like in a constructor, by selecting the necessary functions. In reality, customer requests were sent to the Indian office, where 700 Indians wrote code… pic.twitter.com/lYWipf63cp — Bernhard Engelbrecht (@BernhardEngel_) May 29, 2025
The scandal came to light in May 2025, ending an eight-year run. Dexerto reports that the company wrote in a statement on LinkedIn: “Despite the tireless efforts of our current team and exploring every possible option, the business has been unable to recover from historic challenges and past decisions that placed significant strain on its financial position.”
Builder.ai also faces serious allegations of financial misconduct. Bloomberg reported that it faked transactions with Indian tech firm VerSe Innovation to inflate its revenue—a practice known as “round-tripping.” Documents showed both companies billed each other for similar amounts between 2021 and 2024, often without providing services.
VerSe has strongly denied the claims. “We’re not the kind of company that is in the business of inflating revenues,” co-founder Umang Bedi told Bloomberg, calling the accusations “baseless and false.”
Builder.ai’s downfall highlights the risks of the current AI investment boom, where startups promise revolutionary products but sometimes rely on smoke and mirrors.
Dexerto notes that U.S. prosecutors have subpoenaed Builder.ai’s financial documents, and the company has admitted to some discrepancies in its past sales reports.
