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The Google Play Store hosted 85 applications containing advertising software, downloaded by 8 million users.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Google Android malware has often been in the spotlight in the last few weeks. Today, it is no different: security researchers from & nbsp;Trend Micro revealed that the Google Play Store app hosted with an 85 advertising application. Worse, these apps have generated more than 8 million downloads. & Nbsp;
Applications with adware pretended to be legitimate services that focused on gaming or photography. You can find & nbsp;a list of applications here. & nbsp;
An adware is a malware that is hiding on your device and you are running unwanted ads. According to the researchers, the advertising software discovered by Trend Micro is not quite what you expected. & Nbsp;
In addition to displaying ads that are difficult to close, it uses "unique techniques to escape detection by user behavior and time triggers," according to Ecular Xu, Trend Micro's mobile threat response engineer.
Malicious apps hide their icon and create a shortcut on your phone's home screen about 30 minutes after installation. This prevents them from being uninstalled by simply dragging the icon to the "Uninstall" section. & Nbsp;
The adware applications use the "Java Reflection" – which allows to inspect or modify the behavior of the application at runtime – to remain hidden.
Meanwhile, in order to be able to display unwanted advertisements, the app saves a broadcast receiver to check if the user has unlocked the device. Once the conditions are met, the ads are displayed in full screen. Users must view the entire ad before they can close it or return to the application itself. & Nbsp;
What to do
Fortunately, the apps are no longer available. After Trend Micro disclosed its findings to Google, the applications embedded in the adware were removed from the Play Store.
However, for those already affected, Trend Micro offers tips for reducing the impact of adware. The researchers point out that the latest Samsung Android devices have a feature that limits the creation of shortcuts on the home screen, which can help users to uninstall it. & Nbsp;
If you're already infected, the ethical hacker John Opdenakker advises you: "Uninstall the malicious application. If that does not solve the problem, use a cleaning software for adware. If all this does not work, you can perform a factory reset. "
This & nbsp;Wintips Blog offers more detailed tips on how to clean your Android device.
You've heard about it before, but it's important to be cautious when downloading apps from the Google Play Store. "Unfortunately, users can not blindly believe that Google Play apps are free of malware," says Opdenakker. "That's why it's important to install an antivirus application and pay attention to the applications you install."
This means that you should not install applications that require excessive permissions. For example, says Opdenakker: "A barcode reader does not need to access your contacts."
It's also a good idea to read application reviews before installing them, as you would when buying an article on Amazon. "Search the name and creator of the application to check if the application is known to be malicious," advises Opdenakker.
Sean Wright, an independent security researcher, agrees. "Read the reviews, especially the negative reviews," he says.
He considers that applications using adware are "more harmful than anything else". However, it warns like periodic screen captures, or maybe even start encrypting files – which actually makes them ransomware. "
Android malware is not new. If you keep track of specific threats and take steps to avoid them, for example by paying attention to the applications you download, it is not impossible to secure your device. & Nbsp;
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The Google Play Store hosted 85 applications containing advertising software, downloaded by 8 million users.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Google Android malware has often been in the spotlight in recent weeks. Today, it is no different: Trend Micro security researchers have revealed that the Google Play Store application hosted 85 applications with advertising software. Even worse, these apps have generated more than 8 million downloads.
Applications with adware pretended to be legitimate services that focused on gaming or photography. You can find a list of applications here.
An adware is a malware that is hiding on your device and you are running unwanted ads. According to the researchers, the advertising software discovered by Trend Micro is not quite what you expected.
In addition to displaying ads that are difficult to close, it uses "unique techniques to escape detection by user behavior and time triggers," according to Ecular Xu, Trend Micro's mobile threat response engineer.
Malicious apps hide their icon and create a shortcut on your phone's home screen about 30 minutes after installation. This prevents them from being uninstalled by simply dragging the icon to the "Uninstall" section.
The adware applications use the "Java Reflection" – which allows to inspect or modify the behavior of the application at runtime – to remain hidden.
Meanwhile, in order to be able to display unwanted advertisements, the app saves a broadcast receiver to check if the user has unlocked the device. Once the conditions are met, the ads are displayed in full screen. Users must view the entire ad before they can close it or return to the application itself.
What to do
Fortunately, the apps are no longer available. After Trend Micro disclosed its findings to Google, the applications embedded in the adware were removed from the Play Store.
However, for those already affected, Trend Micro offers tips for reducing the impact of adware. The researchers point out that the latest Samsung Android devices have a feature that limits the creation of shortcuts on the home screen, which can help users to uninstall it.
If you're already infected, the ethical hacker John Opdenakker advises you: "Uninstall the malicious application. If that does not solve the problem, use a cleaning software for adware. If all this does not work, you can perform a factory reset. "
This Wintips blog offers more detailed tips on how to clean your Android device.
You've heard about it before, but it's important to be cautious when downloading apps from the Google Play Store. "Unfortunately, users can not blindly believe that Google Play apps are free of malware," says Opdenakker. "That's why it's important to install an antivirus application and pay attention to the applications you install."
This means that you should not install applications that require excessive permissions. For example, says Opdenakker: "A barcode reader does not need to access your contacts."
It's also a good idea to read application reviews before installing them, as you would when buying an article on Amazon. "Search the name and creator of the application to check if the application is known to be malicious," advises Opdenakker.
Sean Wright, an independent security researcher, agrees. "Read the reviews, especially the negative reviews," he says.
He sees applications without adware as "more harmful than anything else." However, he warns, "I guess these types of applications will soon be trying to do more potentially dangerous things, such as periodic screen captures. , or maybe even start encrypting files, making it a ransomware. "
Android malware is not new. If you are aware of specific threats and take steps to avoid them, for example by paying attention to the applications you download, it is not impossible to secure your device.