Due to Google’s less strict regulations and security, it has caused more than half a million of Android users to download a malware into their smartphones through Google Play.
The malware is disguised in the form of driving game applications, which 2 out of 13 are actually trending, causing more users to be exposed to the malware. It was first found to be a malware by Lukas Stefanko, a malware researcher. The 13 games are all developed by the same individual from Istanbul.
Image credit: Lukas Stefanko
How the malware works is that once users open the installed games, the games crashes and its icon disappears. Meanwhile, TechCrunch explained that the data acquired in users’ smartphones will be downloaded to another domain which is registered to an app developer in Istanbul. The malware is also persistent as it launches whenever the smartphone is restarted and gains full access to the network traffic, thus it will be able to steal personal information from the users.
Google did remove the following applications soon after but it is a strong evidence of how Google’s security is still not good enough to protect its users. On the other hand, many have compared Google Play to Apple’s App Store, which is more secure and strict in allowing apps in the App Store, so it’ll serve as a lesson that being more secure and having less apps might not be that bad after all.