Google Play Malicious Apps Racked Up 335M+ Installs in September

guest · Oct 1, 2019

Google Play Malicious Apps Racked Up 335M+ Installs in September
A total of 172 malicious apps were detected on Google Play in September, with more than 330 million installations
October 1, 2019
https://threatpost.com/google-play-malicious-apps-racked-up-335m-installs-in-september/148810/

ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko said on Tuesday that the majority of those 172 malicious apps were harboring adware. He said 48 adware-laced apps represent up to 300 million installs on Google Play.

“Unwanted ads or adware is popular category because after install it doesn’t request any further inputs, like banking trojans, and can simply generate revenue for developers right from the beginning,” Stefanko told Threatpost. “Also, it isn’t as difficult to create adware as it is to create Android ransomware or banking Trojans.”
The malicious adware component of the apps were hidden inside functional apps. Once downloaded, the rogue apps installed malware that begins displaying advertisements, which are shown even when the app is closed, according to researchers.

But despite these efforts, malicious apps continue to pop up on Google Play – in fact, the number of harmful apps detected in September is actually lower than those detected in August (204 malicious apps) and July (205 malicious apps), Stefanko told Threatpost.
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To avoid malicious apps on Google Play, users can double check the app reviews on Google Play for any negative feedback, he said.

“Before installing app, take 30 seconds to read comments – focus on negative ones,” Stefanko told Threatpost. “Subscription scams request 3-day free trial before demonstrating its functionality which should be red flag – many times there are alternative free apps with the same functionality.”
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Google Play Malicious Apps Racked Up 335M+ Installs in September

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