“Android apps that have been downloaded millions of times have been subverted to mine virtual coins for cyberthieves, say security firms,” BBC News reports. “Two firms have found apps inside and outside the Google Play store seeded with the hidden mining code.”
“The programs have been mining coins for the Dogecoin, Litecoin and Casinocoin virtual currencies,” The Beeb reports. “If installed, the booby-trapped apps will run down a phone’s battery very quickly, said researchers.”
MacDailyNews Take: Wow, ever quicker than normal?
“Some of the apps harbouring the mining code were found on non-official Android stores but two of the programs, called Songs and Prized, are still available on the Google Play store,” The Beeb reports. “Songs has been downloaded at least one million times.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: “Open.”
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Wabash Sphinx” for the heads up.]
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Android app malware rates skyrocket 40 percent in last quarter – August 7, 2013
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F-Secure: Android accounted for 96% of all mobile malware in Q4 2012 – March 7, 2013
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FBI issues warning over Android malware attacks – October 15, 2012
Researchers discover serious flaw in Android app security, say HTC and Samsung ignore issue – September 28, 2012
Apple’s iPhone has passed a key security threshold – August 13, 2012
Android permissions flaw allows eavesdropping, data theft, location tracking – December 2, 2011
Massive HTC Android security flaw leaves security expert speechless – October 2, 2011
Apple’s iOS unaffected by malware as Android exploits surge 76% – August 24, 2011
Android malware records phone calls; iPhone users unaffected – August 2, 2011
Symantec: Apple iOS offers ‘full protection,’ Google Android ‘little protection’ vs. malware attacks – June 29, 2011
Malware apps spoof Android Market to infect Android phones – June 21, 2011
Google forced to pull several malware-infested apps from Android market – June 8, 2011
Android malware sees explosive growth; even faster than with PCs – April 27, 2011
Virus-laden apps infest Google’s ‘open’ Android platform; iPhone unaffected – March 3, 2011
Security firm warns of new Android trojan that can steal personal information; iPhone unaffected – December 30, 2010
Trojan infects Android smartphones; iPhone unaffected – August 10, 2010
Millions of Android phone users slammed by malicious data theft app – July 29, 2010
Unlike proactive Apple, reactive Google doesn’t block malware from Android app store – June 4, 2010
Malware designed to steal bank information pops up in Google’s Android app store – January 11, 2010
Those russian’s better be careful or their secret Swiss accounts will be looted, I hope.
Given that Russian MPs are ditching their Treacherous iOS devices for the UTTERLY secure Android kit from Scamdung, one has to wonder if these Android apps are tooled up to mine for roubles.
Oh, we do hope not . . . don’t we?
Help fusion