technology
Privacy and security
Again: Danger to Android users - 150 malicious apps detected
More than 10 million users in more than 70 countries were affected by the attack.
According to the research company, the apps were impersonating legitimate software, and the total amount stolen could reach hundreds of millions of euros.
And a call recording application is also on the list
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Android
Yinon Ben Shoshan
Sunday, 10 October 2021, 07:30 Updated: 07:52
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(Photo: ShutterStock)
Android users?
Please note: 150 apps that were available in Google's Play app store were found to be particularly dangerous and behave like Trojans - according to a study by Zimperium, a company that deals with information security in the field of smartphones.
Behind the malicious applications is GriftHorse, an attack group that has been focusing on Android apps and has been active since November 2020. On the face of it, the identified apps have provided users with legitimate services - like photo editing, health and fitness, document translation and call recorder.
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More than 150 malicious applications (Photo: Courtesy of the photographers, Yaniv Khalif)
For example, the most popular malicious app is Handy Translator Pro, which has reached more than a million downloads.
Another application identified by the researchers is called Heart Rate and Pulse Tracke and has been installed about 500,000 times.
How did the method work?
The campaign reached millions of users in more than 70 countries, with behind-the-scenes apps signing up for premium services without the users' knowledge and consent - and even stealing more information from the device.
According to Zimperium, the total amount stolen could reach hundreds of millions of euros.
In total, about 10 million users were affected.
The 8 most popular apps identified
Handy Translator Pro - about a million downloads
Heart Rate and Pulse Tracker - about 500,000 downloads
Bus - Metrolis 2021 - about 500 thousand downloads
Fingerprint Changer - about 500,000 downloads
Bus Driving Simulator - about 500,000 downloads
OFFRoaders - Survive - about 500,000 downloads
Amazing Video Editor - about 500,000 downloads
Horoscope: Fortune - about 100,000 downloads
The full list can be found
here
How can you protect yourself?
"We will always check what approaches the app requires - and we will not install applications whose requirements do not exceed the logic. For example, a plant identification app with access to phone calls," says Tom Malka, senior threat analyst at Security Joes in a conversation with Walla!
technology.
"We will always download apps from the official source. And true, even in this case the apps were in the official app store and were still malicious, but the risk of downloading apps from external sources is even greater," Malka adds.
"It is also recommended to scan frequently. Antivirus applications tend to keep up to date with threats once detected, this step can be helpful in detecting malicious applications that are still installed on the device."
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