A new malware scheme has been discovered that pushes fake antivirus software to Android users via in-app advertising. Once installed, the trojan informs the victims they need to pay up to remove threats on their device. The malware in question, detected as "Android.Fakealert.4.origin" by Russian security firm Doctor Web, has been around since at least October 2012 according to the company.
While Android malware that masks itself as an antivirus for Google's platform is nothing new, and neither are ads in Android apps pushing malware, but putting the two together can certainly be effective. This is naturally a practice that Windows users are all too familiar with, and it’s worrying to see it ported to Android along with all the other previous schemes we’ve already seen so far.
This is what Android users see if they are tricked into installing the fake antivirus:
TNW: http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/04/19/criminals-trick-android-users-with-in-app-ads-for-fake-antivirus-charge-to-remove-nonexistent-threats/
See Also:
Over 60% of Android malware steals your money via premium SMS, hides in fake forms of popular apps
http://thenextweb.com/google/2012/10/05/over-60-percent-of-android-malware-comes-from-one-family-hides-in-fake-versions-of-popular-apps/
Android malware emerges on Google Play which installs a trojan on your PC, uses your microphone to record you
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/02/03/android-malware-emerges-on-google-play-which-installs-a-trojan-on-your-pc-uses-your-microphone-to-record-you/
While Android malware that masks itself as an antivirus for Google's platform is nothing new, and neither are ads in Android apps pushing malware, but putting the two together can certainly be effective. This is naturally a practice that Windows users are all too familiar with, and it’s worrying to see it ported to Android along with all the other previous schemes we’ve already seen so far.
This is what Android users see if they are tricked into installing the fake antivirus:
TNW: http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/04/19/criminals-trick-android-users-with-in-app-ads-for-fake-antivirus-charge-to-remove-nonexistent-threats/
See Also:
Over 60% of Android malware steals your money via premium SMS, hides in fake forms of popular apps
http://thenextweb.com/google/2012/10/05/over-60-percent-of-android-malware-comes-from-one-family-hides-in-fake-versions-of-popular-apps/
Android malware emerges on Google Play which installs a trojan on your PC, uses your microphone to record you
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/02/03/android-malware-emerges-on-google-play-which-installs-a-trojan-on-your-pc-uses-your-microphone-to-record-you/