Device Takeover (DTO)
When fraudsters control the device
Device Takeover (DTO) occurs when criminals compromise a customer's device using mobile malware, banking trojans, remote access tools, overlays, spyware, or other malicious software. Once in control, attackers can observe, manipulate, or even perform actions on behalf of the customer.
Unlike traditional account takeover, the genuine customer may still be using the device. The threat is the presence of malicious software operating alongside them. ThreatFabric specifically identifies Device Takeover as a key fraud category and use Device Risk, supported by Behaviour Analytics, and Mobile Threat Intelligence to detect these attacks.
The hidden signals behind device takeover
Compromised devices often exhibit indicators that are invisible to traditional fraud systems:
- Mobile banking malware
- Remote access tools (RATs)
- Overlay attacks
- Screen capture or spyware activity
- Rooted or jailbroken devices
- Emulator usage
- Device manipulation or tampering
DTO attacks frequently serve as the foundation for account takeover, authorised push payment fraud, and social engineering scams.
How ThreatFabric detects device takeover
ThreatFabric combines Device Risk, Behavioural Analytics, and Mobile Threat Intelligence to identify compromised devices before fraud occurs.
Device Risk
Detecting compromise
ThreatFabric Device Risk continuously analyses the security posture of customer devices to identify:
- Banking trojans
- Malware infections
- Remote access tools
- Device insecurities
- Emulator usage
- Rooted and jailbroken devices
ThreatFabric's Device Risk capabilities include malware-specific detections and intelligence-driven identification of emerging threats targeting financial institutions.
Behavioural Analytics
Seeing the Impact
A compromised device often changes how customers interact with digital banking.
ThreatFabric's Identity Model can identify unusual behaviour that may indicate external control, malware interference, or device compromise. By combining device signals with behavioural deviations, organisations gain higher-confidence detections and fewer false positives.
Mobile Threat Intelligence
You can't fight what you can't see
ThreatFabric's Mobile Threat Intelligence tracks banking malware families, fraud tooling, remote access campaigns, and emerging attack techniques worldwide.
This intelligence enables rapid identification of known malicious software targeting customers and financial institutions.
Why ThreatFabric is effective against device takeover
Focus on the complete fraud journey
ThreatFabric helps organisations:
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Detect banking malware and mobile trojans
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Identify remote access tool abuse
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Uncover compromised and insecure devices
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Detect malware-assisted fraud schemes
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Correlate device compromise with behavioural anomalies
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Identify DTO-driven account takeover and hybrid scam attacks
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Protect mobile banking customers before losses occur
Traditional fraud systems focus on the transaction.
ThreatFabric focuses on the device, the behaviour, and the threat behind the transaction.
That multi-layered approach provides earlier visibility into device compromise and enables organisations to stop fraud before criminals can exploit customer accounts.
Fraud Prevention Built On
Actionable Threat Intelligence
Learn how ThreatFabric's Fraud Risk Suite (FRS) can protect your organisation from fraud.