Warning to Android users as virus hidden in app store is downloaded 2 million times
Android users have been warned over a new strain of malware which was hidden inside 45 apps on Google’s Play store – and has infected two million devices.
The malware was hidden inside 45 game guides on Google’s official Play store for up to five months between 2016 and early this year, with several reaching 50,000 installs.
The app enables hackers to take ‘remote control’ of devices, and can’t be deleted – and has been used to display bogus, illegal adverts in user’s devices, security researchers Check Point say.
But the FalseGuide malware could be used to control infected phones as a ‘botnet’ – using them to perform hack attacks against websites and networks.
Check Point says, ‘Depending on the attackers’ objectives, these modules can contain highly malicious code intended to root the device, conduct a DDoS attack, or even penetrate private networks.’
Check Point researchers notified Google of the malware, and the infected apps have since been removed from the store.
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