The apps always use icons that resemble Minecraft’s look and feel and the lure is that users will be able to mod or beat the game. Scammers have latched on to the hugely popular Minecraft game to push what appear to be Android ‘cheat’ apps that are in fact designed to scare users into paying to rid their devices of non-existent malware, security firm Eset has discovered.ĭiscovered on Google’s Play, it’s a tactic that has at various times been hugely popular on Windows computers but it still disappointing that Google’s automated rogue app scanner missed these apps on at least 30 occasions in the last nine months.Īccording to Eset, the first app appeared last August, since when they have been downloaded somewhere between 600,000 and 2.8 million times. The world’s first mobile malware celebrates its 10th birthdayįor more technology news and the latest updates, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Like us on Facebook. VirLock, the first shapeshifting ransomware “With this in mind, we strongly recommend that users do some research into apps, such as reading reviews, before downloading and avoid downloading from unofficial app stores.” “This can be dangerous as it potentially allows your mobile device and sensitive and private information to be accessed without your consent. “Associating fake applications with popular games is just another example of a sneaky technique used by hackers to encourage users to download hidden malware,” said Parvinder Walia, sales director at ESET Asia Pacific. The scareware techniques inside the fake apps are used to trick victims into registering for a premium-rate service. “To avoid the installation of malicious or unwanted applications, refrain from downloading apps from unofficial sources and keep security software on your Android up-to-date,” he added. “The seriousness of this threat lies in the fact that it may have been downloaded by almost three million users from the official Google Play store,” said ESET malware researcher Lukas Stefanko. Despite poor user reviews and negative comments, the scareware has spread massively during the past months. The malicious applications, which pretended to be cheats for the popular Minecraft game, have been installed by more than 600,000 Android users, ESET reported on .įollowing ESET’s notification, Google has removed the rogue apps from the store, the Bratislava, Slovakia-headquartered company said in a statement.ĮSET detects the scareware apps as Android/FakeApp.AL. RESEARCHERS from security company ESET have discovered more than 30 fake applications available for download on the Google Play Store.
0 kommentar(er)
