VPN apps with 500M+ installs caught serving disruptive ads to Android users

mood · Sep 20, 2019

VPN apps with 500M+ installs caught serving disruptive ads to Android users
Google Play Store has a malware problem
September 20, 2019
https://thenextweb.com/google/2019/...ught-serving-disruptive-ads-to-android-users/

Google Play Store has a malware problem. And it doesn’t seem to go away despite the company’s best efforts to rein in sketchy apps.

In a yet another instance of Android adware, New Zealand-based independent security researcher Andy Michael found four Android VPN apps with cumulative downloads of over 500 million that not only serve ads while running the background, but are also placed outside the apps, including the home screen.

The apps in question are Hotspot VPN, Free VPN Master, Secure VPN, and Security Master by Cheetah Mobile. It’s notable that all these apps originate from Hong Kong and China, where citizens have typically relied on VPNs to get around the Great Firewall.
The apps are live on the Play Store to this date. But in an interesting twist, the apps containing the adware were all VPN or antivirus apps, suggesting that developers are increasingly banking on users’ trust in security-related apps to commit ‘outside ad fraud.’
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The fact that a legitimate app store like Google Play repeatedly harbors malicious apps is a cause of concern. Android users are often advised not to download apps from third-party sources to avoid malware. Unfortunately, it seems sticking to the Play store isn’t always safe either.

“It is highly recommended that users scrutinize every app they intend to install on their devices.”
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These 4 Android VPN Apps Contain Adware

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