Google Removes 21 Malware Apps from Android Market
Contents
- Google Removes 21 Malware Apps from Android Market
- List of Android Malware
Google has removed a large number of apps from the official Android App Market that were discovered to contain malware, the company has confirmed. Before Google took action, however, the apps were downloaded over 50,000 times. A fix for infected users is said to be in the works.
The apps were essentially copies of other popular apps, modified slightly to contain a trojan horse. App publisher Myournet then posted the malware apps on the App Market, 21 in total. Described as a "root exploit," the trojan is able to steal all of the Android devices infected data and even download code that could repurpose the phone to perform actions (for example, send the phone's data to the hacker) without the user's knowledge.
After learning about the problem from a Reddit user, the site Android Police informed Google about the malicious apps, and it reportedly took the company less than five minutes to pull all 21 of them from the App Market. Unfortunately for users, the apps were posted for four days, and in that time they were apparently downloaded more than 50,000 times. A fix is supposedly in the works.
The scare comes just a couple of days after a report from Symantec that warned about Android malware—and specifically trojans—were on the rise. Symantec's official blog pointed out that apps with a piece of code called "Android.Pjapps." Symantec says the code can, without the users's knowledge, "install applications, navigate to websites, add bookmarks to your browser, send text messages, and optionally block text message responses."
For now, Myournet's malware apps have been removed from the App Market. But the news shows the downside of Google's relatively open Android platform, which stands in stark contrast to Apple's heavily vetted App Store. Apple checks and approves ever app that is posted on the App Store and sometimes rejects apps for confusing reasons, whereas Android Developers can, once they've registered with Google, publish apps whenever they want. Such an approach leaves many of the security concerns up to the user.
More information about this story is posted at our sister site, Security Watch.
Android Police's full list of the removed apps is on the next page. Click the "Next Story" link below to see the names of the trojan-spreading apps.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Sponsors
- Weight Watchers Online For Men: A customized online system for men. Go!
- Sponsored By T-Mobile® America's Largest 4G Network®. Experience 4G at the speed of T-Mobile®
- Weight Watchers Online for Men: No food is off limits ever-Learn more.
- New Fujitsu LIFEBOOK AH532 Notebook only $549, FREE shipping at ShopFujitsu.com
- Invention Comes from Everywhere. See it at Qualcomm Spark
- Canon P-215 mobile scanner. Road-ready. Briefcase-worthy.
- Enable multi-user apps via WiFi and Bluetooth - Download AllJoyn SDK
- Parent at 4G speed with the LG Viper 4G LTE from Sprint.
- Get your FREE PC Health Check. Find and fix hidden problems in 3 minutes.
- Panasonic Toughbook® mobile computers. Rugged. Reliable. Powerful.
- 4 STARS! MyLOK puts password management on Steroids. Get Protected.
- Epson WorkForce® Pro Run your business at full speed for less
- With LogMeIn Rescue, deliver remote IT support to any PC or mobile device, anywhere, instantly. Free trial.
- PCMag Editor's Choice: McAfee® All Access. All your devices. All your stuff. All protected. Buy Now
- Accept credit cards wherever you go! FREE GoPayment Card Reader & App
- Panasonic Toughbook® mobile computers. Rugged. Reliable. Powerful.
- Click here to buy Webroot SecureAnywhere Complete!
- Dice - The Career Hub for Tech
- SOS Online Backup - PC Magazine's Editors' Choice SAVE 20% Now!