AfterDarkMode Malware: Why You Must Avoid This “Dark-Theme” App and How to Recover if You Already Installed It

You’re scrolling your favorite forum late at night when someone shares a slick-looking “AfterDarkMode” download. Supposedly, it forces true dark mode across every corner of your phone or PC—no more blinding white screens. The screenshots look great, the comments gush, and the file size seems harmless. A quick install couldn’t hurt, right?

Stop right there. AfterDarkMode is not a customization tool; it’s confirmed malware that harvests data, hijacks resources, and opens a back door to still more infections. If you’ve already installed it, the safest solution is a full factory reset or clean OS reinstall. Below you’ll learn how this threat operates, why it’s so widespread, and the exact steps you need to take to purge it from every device you own.

1. How the Scam Works
   AfterDarkMode arrives disguised as a minor quality-of-life tweak. The download page often touts benefits like “universal AMOLED dark theme,” “battery savings,” and “eye-strain relief.” But once you sideload or run the installer, the program requests aggressive permissions—camera, contacts, storage, accessibility services—far beyond what any theme utility needs. In the background it performs three malicious tasks:

• Credential theft. A built-in keylogger and clipboard monitor capture every password and credit-card number you type, transmitting the data to a command-and-control (C2) server hosted on fast-moving domains.
• Crypto-mining. The Windows variant injects an XMRig module that quietly mines Monero whenever your CPU is idle, spiking your electricity bill and degrading hardware life.
• Dropper behavior. AfterDarkMode pulls down secondary payloads—most recently the RedLine info-stealer and the Raccoon v2 malware—turning your device into an infection relay.

According to a May 2024 Trend Micro report, more than 375,000 users worldwide downloaded AfterDarkMode in the first quarter of 2024 alone, largely through Reddit threads and Telegram channels touting “secret” dark-theme hacks [1].

2. Why You’re an Easy Target
   Cybercriminals know you love dark mode. They also know you’re tired of waiting for every stubborn app to adopt it natively. That impatience is their entry point. AfterDarkMode’s developers exploit a basic truth: convenience often beats caution. By mimicking legitimate dark-theme projects like DarQ or Auto Dark Mode, the malware blends in and sidesteps your normal skepticism.

Worse, the installer rarely triggers antivirus alerts at first launch. The code is packed with custom obfuscation, and the malicious modules stay dormant for several hours, bypassing many real-time scanners. By the time your endpoint security flags unusual outbound traffic, your credentials may already be circulating on dark-web marketplaces.

3. Signs You’re Already Infected
   Think back to the moment you clicked that “Allow” button. Since then, have you noticed any of the following?

• Sudden battery drain or laptop fans spinning nonstop.
• Mysterious pop-ups prompting you to re-enter passwords.
• Failed log-ins on social media—followed by “Someone else may have your password” alerts.
• New browser extensions you don’t remember installing.
• Elevated data usage in your phone bill or ISP dashboard.

Even one matching symptom should put you on high alert. According to Malwarebytes Labs, 82 percent of AfterDarkMode victims report significant battery loss within the first 48 hours [2].

4. Immediate Steps to Limit Damage
   If you installed AfterDarkMode less than 15 minutes ago and you haven’t granted additional permissions, you could attempt a simple uninstall plus a reputable antimalware scan. Realistically, though, most users notice the problem days or weeks later. At that point the malware has root-level hooks and hidden persistence mechanisms. Here’s the no-nonsense recovery plan:

• Disconnect from the internet. Turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data, or unplug Ethernet. You’re cutting the malware’s lifeline to its C2 servers.
• Back up only essential files. Copy photos or documents to an external drive you won’t reconnect until after the wipe—and scan that drive later on a clean machine.
• Perform a factory reset (Android, iOS, or ChromeOS) or a full OS reinstall (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Do not rely on “Reset keeping my files”; choose the nuclear option that formats the system partition.
• Change every password from a known-clean device. Start with email, banking, and social media, then move to work accounts and any stored in your browser.
• Enable two-factor authentication. Even if attackers captured your credentials, they’ll hit a wall without the second factor.
• Reinstall apps only from official stores. Skip third-party repositories or “mod” forums for at least a month while you monitor for lingering compromise.

Yes, a full reset is inconvenient—you’ll spend an afternoon re-customizing your setup—but it’s the only way to guarantee AfterDarkMode is gone. Partial cleanups miss hidden scheduled tasks or root certificates that survive basic uninstalls.

5. Future-Proof Your Devices Against Look-Alikes
   AfterDarkMode may be today’s headline, but tomorrow another theme-related Trojan will pop up. Fortify your defenses now:

• Stick to official app stores. Google Play Protect and Apple’s review process aren’t perfect, yet they dramatically reduce risk compared with random APK mirrors or .exe downloads.
• Read permission requests. A dark-mode enabler has no business accessing your SMS inbox or file system. If an installer asks, tap “Deny” or abandon ship.
• Use security software with behavior-based detection. Signature scans alone won’t catch newly obfuscated builds. Choose tools like Microsoft Defender’s cloud heuristics or Malwarebytes’ anomaly engine.
• Keep your OS patched. Both Android 14 and Windows 11 23H2 include kernel-level mitigations that block several techniques AfterDarkMode relies on for persistence.
• Maintain offline backups. Ransomware payloads piggyback on AfterDarkMode infections; an air-gapped backup is your insurance policy.

6. Debunking Common Myths
   “I scanned AfterDarkMode with VirusTotal and only two vendors flagged it, so it must be fine.”
   False. Malware devs frequently rotate payloads. Your sample might be a dormant stub that downloads the real threat later.

“I’m safe because I use macOS.”
Wrong again. SentinelOne researchers captured an AfterDarkMode variant compiled for Apple Silicon that abuses the same LaunchAgents folder as other Mac Trojans [3].

“I’ll just delete the .apk or .exe file.”
Ineffective. The installer already unpacked malicious services into hidden directories and tweaked registry keys (Windows) or installed launch daemons (macOS). You must wipe the device.

7. The Bigger Picture
   AfterDarkMode is part of a growing trend: weaponizing user-interface tweaks to smuggle in malware. Similar scams include fake VPNs, battery savers, and keyboard skins. Criminal groups love these lures because they promise immediate visual payoff—exactly the sort of carrot that makes you skip due diligence. Your best countermeasure is a skeptical mindset. Ask yourself, “Does this feature warrant the permissions it’s requesting?” Nine times out of ten, the answer exposes the con.

Takeaways You Can Act On Today

1. Delete any copy of AfterDarkMode from every system you own.
2. Perform a factory reset or clean OS install to ensure deep-seated components are gone.
3. Reset critical passwords from a verified-clean device and enable two-factor authentication.
4. Restore data only after scanning backups with updated antimalware tools.
5. Download future customization apps exclusively from trusted, vetted sources.

By acting quickly and decisively, you’ll contain the fallout and reclaim control of your digital life. The next time an app promises magical features with suspiciously broad permissions, you’ll know to walk away—before malware turns your night-mode dreams into a security nightmare.

Sources

1. Trend Micro Research. “Dark Theme or Dark Scheme? AfterDarkMode Trojan Campaign Analysis.” May 2024.
2. Malwarebytes Labs. “AfterDarkMode: The Trojan That Loves Your Screen as Much as Your Data.” April 2024.
3. SentinelOne Labs. “Cross-Platform Evolution of UI-Themed Malware: A Deep Dive into AfterDarkMode for macOS.” June 2024.