An analysis by the antivirus provider Dr.Web shows that Google has an increasing problem with fake apps in the Play Store. There are apps that pretend to release additional functions for WhatsApp, as well as navigation and photo apps. All contain dangerous trojans.
This is reported by the online magazine Bleeping Computer. Recently, more and more apps have been appearing in the Google Play Store that are infected with malware and steal users' bank details and passwords, for example. We have already reported on some such applications.
Now, Dr.Web has presented a new analysis that shows how big the problem with the malware in the Play Store is. Security researchers have recently noticed an increase in Trojan horse infiltrations in the Google Play Store. One of the apps discovered already had over 500,000 installations. Google is currently hardly in control of the offers of the cyber gangsters.
Most of these apps belong to a family of Trojan horse malware used in various scams leading to financial loss and theft of sensitive personal information. But there is also a resurgence of subscription traps.
Subscriptions are taken out unnoticed in the apps, but no service is rendered in return. These apps have partially made it into the Google Play Store, giving users a false sense of security. Others are distributed in the more traditional ways of Android malware. These include a new Android Trojan in the form of a WhatsApp mod that is being offered for download via shady websites promoted through social media posts and forums.
Trojans in the Play Store
Among the threats identified by the analysts at Dr.Web on the Play Store on the web include cryptocurrency management apps, welfare support tools, Gazprom investment clones, photo editors, and a launcher inspired by iOS 15. A majority of the apps that Dr. Web has already been removed by Google - but they were available months ago. But it is quite likely that the people behind it will now bring them back to the store in other ways.