Adware posing as 85 Gaming and Photography Apps [Link to List]

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https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/adware-posing-as-85-photography-and-gaming-apps-on-google-play-installed-over-8-million-times/

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Adware Posing as 85 Photography and Gaming Apps on Google Play Installed Over 8 Million Times

The mobile platform is ubiquitous — enabling users to make online transactions, run their everyday lives, or even use it in the workplace. It’s no surprise that fraudsters and cybercriminals would want to cash in on it. Delivering adware, for example, enables them to monetize affected devices...

blog.trendmicro.com

We found another example of adware’s potential real-life impact on Google Play. Trend Micro detects this as AndroidOS_Hidenad.HRXH. It isn’t your run-of-the-mill adware family: Apart from displaying advertisements that are difficult to close, it employs unique techniques to evade detection through user behavior and time-based triggers.

These adware-laden apps posed as 85 photography or gaming applications on Google Play, where they have netted more than eight million in combined downloads. We’ve disclosed our findings to Google, and the adware-embedded apps are no longer on the Play store.

List: Appendix [PDF]