Malicious Android apps deactivated fraud code to bypass Google's security scans

silversurfer

Level 85
Thread author
Verified
Honorary Member
Top Poster
Content Creator
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Aug 17, 2014
10,057
Google has recently removed a suite of malicious Android applications from the official Play Store that were caught showing out-of-context ads and intrusive browser redirects on Android smartphones.

Bot mitigation company White Ops, which discovered and reported the malicious apps to Google's security team, said the apps were developed by the same criminal group.

Researchers said the group created at least 38 Android apps geared towards bombarding users with ads, but that recent applications had been modified to disable the malicious adware functions inside the source code, most likely to avoid Google's Play Store security scans during the app submission and approval process. Hiding the malicious code was necessary because when the group first began creating the adware apps, they didn't have much success.
 

About us

  • MalwareTips is a community-driven platform providing the latest information and resources on malware and cyber threats. Our team of experienced professionals and passionate volunteers work to keep the internet safe and secure. We provide accurate, up-to-date information and strive to build a strong and supportive community dedicated to cybersecurity.

User Menu

Follow us

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to know first about the latest cybersecurity incidents and malware threats.

Top