How to Detect Android Malware in Seconds

Android malware is no longer just about annoying pop-ups or shady adware. Today’s threats can steal banking credentials, spy on personal messages, and take full control of a device, often without the user ever knowing.

Although these attacks are getting more sophisticated, they can still be detected in seconds as long as you’re using the right tools.

Let’s explore how to uncover even the most evasive Android malware, save valuable analysis time, and stay ahead of mobile threats.

The Risks of Relying on Static Detection Alone

Signature-based scanners and permission checkers can only catch what they already know. But modern Android malware hides behind obfuscation, delays its activity, or downloads payloads on the fly, making it nearly invisible to static detection.

To catch threats like these, you need to see them in action.

The Fastest Way to Detect Android Malware

To uncover modern threats, static code analysis isn’t enough. You need to run the suspicious file and observe how it behaves in a real environment; that’s exactly what sandboxing is designed for.

A sandbox provides a controlled, isolated space where you can detonate an APK and see everything unfold in real time without any delays or uncertainty. Just a clear picture of what the app is doing, and whether it’s malicious.

For instance, solutions like ANY.RUN allow users to analyze suspicious files across different operating systems, including Android, Windows, and Linux. With its interactive sandbox, analysts can safely detonate APKs and watch the full execution flow, from the first tap to the final payload.

You get a complete view of the attack:

– See how the malware behaves inside the device

– Interact with the environment just like on a real phone or PC; click buttons, open apps, follow the flow

– Understand its tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)

– Quickly determine whether the file is malicious or not in under 40 seconds

It’s fast, visual, and actionable, perfect for catching threats that try to slip past traditional defenses.

Let’s dive into a real threat inside the sandbox and see how this works in practice.

Real-World Example: Salvador Stealer in Action

Let’s look at a real example of Salvador Stealer, a type of Android malware designed to steal banking credentials. We ran the sample in the ANY.RUN Android sandbox to see how it behaves and the entire attack chain became visible within seconds.

View analysis session with Salvador Stealer

Once detonated, the malware shows what looks like a banking app screen. It asks the user to enter personal information like their full name and password. This is how the malware tricks people into handing over sensitive data.

Salvador works in two parts:

– Dropper APK – The first-stage app that installs the second part of the malware

– Base.apk – The actual data-stealing component, launched silently in the background

Inside the sandbox, we can see the Dropper APK launch base.apk as a new activity. This is confirmed by a detection alert that says, “Launches a new activity”.

Once active, the malware does two dangerous things:

1. Sends the stolen data to a fake banking website controlled by the attacker

2. Connects to a Telegram bot used as a command-and-control (C2) server

Next, the fake app asks the user to enter:

– Net banking user ID

– Password

This information is instantly sent to both the phishing site and the Telegram server, and we can see it all unfold in real time inside ANY.RUN.



By enabling HTTPS MITM Proxy mode in ANY.RUN’s Android sandbox, we could intercept and confirm that the stolen user data was being sent out, live and in real time.



Beyond seeing the entire attack play out in a clear, organized way, ANY.RUN also makes it easy to gather critical indicators of compromise (IOCs). Everything from domains and IPs to file hashes is automatically extracted and displayed in the IOC tab; no need to dig through logs or switch between tools. This saves valuable time and ensures nothing gets missed.

Here are the IOCs gathered for this specific attack:



When the analysis is complete, a well-structured report is automatically generated. It includes screenshots, behavioral details, network traffic, and IOCs, ready to share with your team, management, or external partners for further action.



Turn Hours of Analysis into Seconds

ANY.RUN’s interactive sandbox helps your team move faster, cut through noise, and focus on what really matters.

By clearly visualizing every step of the attack, analysts spend less time guessing and more time acting. Instead of jumping between tools, you get:

– Instant clarity on whether a file is malicious

– Less manual work, thanks to automated interactivity

– Shorter investigation time, with all the evidence in one place

– Better collaboration, using structured reports that are easy to share

– Stronger response, built on real behavioral insight, not assumptions

It’s how modern security teams stay ahead of fast-moving threats, without burning out or falling behind.

Start your 14-day trial of ANY.RUN and give your team the visibility and speed they need.