Millions downloaded dozens of Android apps on Google Play infected with adware

guest · Oct 24, 2019

Millions downloaded dozens of Android apps on Google Play infected with adware
October 24, 2019
https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/24/millions-dozens-android-apps-adware/

Security researchers have found dozens of Android apps in the Google Play store serving ads to unsuspecting victims as part of a money-making scheme.
ESET researchers found 42 apps containing adware, which they say have been downloaded over 8 million times since they first debuted in July 2018.

These apps look normal but act sneakily. Once an unsuspecting user installs an adware-infected app, the app will serve full-screen ads on the device’s display at semi-random intervals.
In the background, the apps were also sending back data about the user’s device [...]

The researchers also found that the apps would check to see if an affected device was connected to Google’s servers in an effort to prevent detection. If the apps think they are being tested by Google Play’s security mechanisms, which ostensibly keep the app store free from malicious apps, the adware payload will not be triggered.
Click to expand...

Some of those apps include Video Downloader Master, which had five million downloads; and Ringtone Maker Pro, SaveInsta and Tank Classic, which had 500,000 downloads each.
The researchers say a Vietnamese college student may be behind the adware campaign.

Google removed all of the offending apps but the researchers warned that many were still available from third-party app stores.
Click to expand...

ESET: Tracking down the developer of Android adware affecting millions of users

Log in or Sign up

Millions downloaded dozens of Android apps on Google Play infected with adware

guest Guest

Log in or Sign up

Millions downloaded dozens of Android apps on Google Play infected with adware

guest Guest

Useful Searches