Quote:The malware's code hosts a variety of surveillance functions and is available to the public.

A new strain of Android-based spyware able to rifle through WhatsApp conversations has been discovered as an open development project online.

The malware, originally discovered by ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko, is not only able to compromise WhatsApp messages but also contains a variety of standard surveillance features.

An investigation into the new spyware (.PDF) conducted by G DATA SecurityLabs uncovered the malware's code in a public repository titled "OwnMe" on GitHub.
The malware consists of a MainActivity.class which launches the OwnMe.class service. A pop-up message is then shown to the Android user with the text, "Service started," which implies the malware is still in development.