Malicious Lifestyle Apps Found On Google Play, 30 Million Installs Recorded (zdnet.com) 31
A total of 50 malicious apps have managed to bypass Google's security checks and land on the Google Play store, leading to millions of installs on Android devices. ZDNet reports: Now, the cybersecurity team from Avast have found a further 50 apps relating to lifestyle services which masquerade as legitimate software but are actually adware, and these malicious apps have been downloaded a total of 30 million times. On Tuesday, Avast published a report on the discovery, in which the apps are linked to each other through third-party libraries that "bypass the background service restrictions present in newer Android versions."
"Although the bypassing itself is not explicitly forbidden on the Play Store, Avast detects it as Android:Agent-SEB [PUP], because apps using these libraries waste the user's battery and make the device slower," the researchers say. "The applications use the libraries to continuously display more and more ads to the user, going against Play Store rules." Each app displays full-blown ads to users, and in some cases, will also attempt to lure viewers to install additional adware-laden applications. The malicious apps include Pro Piczoo, Photo Blur Studio, Mov-tracker, Magic Cut Out, and Pro Photo Eraser. Installation rates range from one million to one thousand.
"Although the bypassing itself is not explicitly forbidden on the Play Store, Avast detects it as Android:Agent-SEB [PUP], because apps using these libraries waste the user's battery and make the device slower," the researchers say. "The applications use the libraries to continuously display more and more ads to the user, going against Play Store rules." Each app displays full-blown ads to users, and in some cases, will also attempt to lure viewers to install additional adware-laden applications. The malicious apps include Pro Piczoo, Photo Blur Studio, Mov-tracker, Magic Cut Out, and Pro Photo Eraser. Installation rates range from one million to one thousand.
Lifestyle app? (Score:2, Funny)
What the fuck is that?
Shocking I tell you (Score:5, Interesting)
This is why I have never had any trust in the smartphone platforms. Regardless of flavor.
This is why I will not put any information into my phone that would even be worth looking at.
( I look at Slashdot, Reuters, Google News but will not use the phone to log into any website. Read only credentials. )
This is why I refuse to tie my phone into anything financially related, no matter how convenient it may be.
I don't trust the platform, nor the applications that run upon it and as this article ( and the many before it stating the same thing )
implies, my mistrust is not misplaced.
Re: (Score:1)
I can't imagine doing anything financial with my smartphone. Except buying little crap on eBay and Amazon with the highly-limited account (separate checking/debit with several hundred $$ in it and no automatic-overdraft-recovery).
One of the things I use my debit card for is buying postage stamps. To pay bills.
Go ahead and walk on my lawn. Be careful where you step, though.
Malicious Lifestyle? (Score:4, Funny)
Why would I need an App to live a Malicious Lifestyle?
Re: (Score:3)
malware all the way down (Score:2)
Nearly 100% of the apps on the Play Store are malware (mostly spyware). As is the Android OS itself. I suspect the case is much the same on Apple's platform.