Part 9/10:
The Russian authorities involved have uncovered over 600 offenses across 78 regions—an extensive operation. The police have arrested the gang’s key members, including the main administrator of the malware network. The operation highlights the evolving threat landscape where legitimate research tools like NFCGate are exploited for malicious purposes.
Broader Trends in NFC Malware
NFC-based card fraud has existed conceptually for years but only recently gained traction due to the proliferation of relaying tools like NFCGate. Its application has been reported mainly in regions like Brazil and Eastern Europe, with over 700 malicious apps detected in the wild. The trend indicates a shift towards remote, relay-based NFC attacks rather than traditional physical skimming or proximity theft.