Fake Minecraft Apps Scare Thousands On Google Play
aying Minecraft? Don’t touch the cheats on Google play… Or did you?
Researchers at security firm ESET have discovered 33
malicious apps, which pretended to be cheats for the popular Minecraft
game, in Google Play store. These malware applications have been
installed by more than 600,000 Android users, according to the
researchers.
When a user installs any of these applications, it will
display banners and advertisements that says the device is infected with
a “dangerous virus” and directs users to an alleged solution
— remove viruses by activating a premium-rate SMS subscription that
costs 4.80 EUR per week.
Of course, it’s not easy to put malicious apps on Google play, especially when the “Bouncer”
(Google’s automated application scanner) is there to remove rouge apps.
But somehow the hackers bypassed that scanning process.
“All of the identified scareware apps behaved in a
similar way, the only differences being in the names and icons of the
applications. They were uploaded to the Play store by different
developer accounts, but we assume that these were all created by one
person, “ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko said in a blog post.
ESET recommends the following security tips:
1. Stick with official stores
2. Beware of discounts and early releases
3. Read reviews
4. Check app permissions
Watch: Android apps
ESET security software detects this threat as Android/FakeApp.ALGoogle was alerted of the malicious apps and took them all down.
ESET recommends the following security tips:
1. Stick with official stores
2. Beware of discounts and early releases
3. Read reviews
4. Check app permissions
Watch: Android apps
