Over 750,000 Users Downloaded New Billing Fraud Apps From Google Play Store

silversurfer

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Aug 17, 2014
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Researchers have uncovered a new set of fraudulent Android apps in the Google Play store that were found to hijack SMS message notifications for carrying out billing fraud.

The apps in question primarily targeted users in Southwest Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, attracting a total of 700,000 downloads before they were discovered and removed from the platform.

The findings were reported independently by cybersecurity firms Trend Micro and McAfee.

"Posing as photo editors, wallpapers, puzzles, keyboard skins, and other camera-related apps, the malware embedded in these fraudulent apps hijack SMS message notifications and then make unauthorized purchases," researchers from McAfee said in a Monday write-up.
The list of nine apps is below:
  • Keyboard Wallpaper (com.studio.keypaper2021)
  • PIP Photo Maker (com.pip.editor.camera)
  • 2021 Wallpaper and Keyboard (org.my.favorites.up.keypaper)
  • Barber Prank Hair Dryer, Clipper and Scissors (com.super.color.hairdryer)
  • Picture Editor (com.ce1ab3.app.photo.editor)
  • PIP Camera (com.hit.camera.pip)
  • Keyboard Wallpaper (com.daynight.keyboard.wallpaper)
  • Pop Ringtones for Android (com.super.star.ringtones)
  • Cool Girl Wallpaper/SubscribeSDK (cool.girly.wallpaper)
 

show-Zi

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Jan 28, 2018
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Game apps are highly competitive, and communication apps are affected by the usage of the surroundings. I think it's cunning that the distributors focused on apps related to cameras and wallpapers.:unsure:
 

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