Android anti-malware firm Lockout has discovered a new Android malware dubbed as Badnews which was found to be present in 32 Android apps in the Play Store from four different developers.
The total download count of the infected apps is between 2,000,000 – 9,000,000. But after Lockout notified Google , the apps have been removed.
The malware disguised itself as an advertising network which possibly allowed it to circumvent the android security check - Bouncer. Once installed, the apps pushed malware to the infected devices.
"Badnews has the ability to send fake news messages, prompt users to install applications and sends sensitive information such as the phone number and device ID to its Command and Control (C&C) server. BadNews uses its ability to display fake news messages in order to push out other types of monetization malware and promote affiliated apps."
More than half of the infected apps are in Russian. Here is a complete list of the apps .
Read more about the Badware malware at Source. For information about protecting your Android device and security threats , read this article.
The total download count of the infected apps is between 2,000,000 – 9,000,000. But after Lockout notified Google , the apps have been removed.
The malware disguised itself as an advertising network which possibly allowed it to circumvent the android security check - Bouncer. Once installed, the apps pushed malware to the infected devices.
"Badnews has the ability to send fake news messages, prompt users to install applications and sends sensitive information such as the phone number and device ID to its Command and Control (C&C) server. BadNews uses its ability to display fake news messages in order to push out other types of monetization malware and promote affiliated apps."
More than half of the infected apps are in Russian. Here is a complete list of the apps .
Read more about the Badware malware at Source. For information about protecting your Android device and security threats , read this article.