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Android Version of Clubhouse? Watch Out, It's Probably Malware

A Trojanized program discovered by antivirus provider ESET steals login credentials typed into an Android phone.

 & Michael Kan Principal Reporter

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No, Clubhouse isn’t available for Android yet. But in the meantime, hackers are trying to exploit its popularity by releasing malware disguised as an Android version of the audio chat app.

Antivirus provider ESET spotted the Trojan program. A fake Clubhouse website at “joinclubhouse[.]mobi” has been circulating the dangerous app over the internet. The site itself looks identical to the real Clubhouse website, but it claims to offer an Android version of the app from the Google Play Store. However, if you download it, the Trojanized program will attempt to steal your logins from 458 online services, including social media platforms, cryptocurrency exchanges, and banking apps. 

Although the fake website claims to offer the Clubhouse app from the Google Play Store, it’ll actually deliver the program via its own server—a notable red flag. Once installed, the Trojan will then try to steal passwords by generating a fake login window over the apps you open, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Netflix. The fake window will then record whatever you type, and ferry off your passwords to the hacker’s server. 

“Using SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) to help prevent anyone from infiltrating your accounts wouldn’t necessarily help in this case, since the malware can also intercept text messages,” ESET added. “The malicious app also asks the victim to enable accessibility services, effectively allowing the criminals to take control of the device.”

It's true Clubhouse is working on an Android version of the app. But it probably won’t arrive for a few more months. Expect it to be released on the company’s official website and via the Google Play Store. As for the fake “joinclubhouse[.]mobi” website, it currently triggers a malware warning if you attempt to visit it on the Chrome browser.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

  • My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
  • I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
  • The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
  • Xbox 360 FTW
  • The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
  • The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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