# Experts warn cheap Android phones are being shipped with malware built in, so be on your guard

> Budget Android phones shipped with firmware-level malware preinstalled before reaching customersMalware generated fraudulent ad revenue and turned infected devices into residential proxiesVictims spanned 150 countries,…

- **Source:** [TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/experts-warn-cheap-android-phones-are-being-shipped-with-malware-built-in-so-be-on-your-guard?utm_source=gearopen.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=6acd2748fe97d1d8653f6e5e)
- **Published:** 2026-10-12
- **Category:** Phones
- **Tags:** #apple #samsung #android
- **Canonical:** http://localhost:4321/a/6acd2748fe97d1d8653f6e5e

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_GearOpen's distilled summary. The full original article is published at TechRadar (source link above); GearOpen does not republish the source's full text._