ESET researchers have discovered more than 30 fake applications available for download on the Google Play Store. The malicious applications, which pretended to be cheats for the popular Minecraft game, have been installed by more than 600.000 Android users, reports ESET on WeLiveSecurity.com. Following ESET‘s notification Google has removed the rogue apps from the store.
ESET detects the scareware apps as Android/FakeApp.AL. Despite poor user reviews and negative comments, the scareware has spread massively during the past months.
“The seriousness of this threat lies in the fact that it may have been downloaded by almost three million users from the official Google Play store,“ says Lukas Stefanko, Malware Researcher at ESET.
The scareware techniques inside the fake apps are used to trick victims into registering for a premium-rate service.
“To avoid the installation of malicious or unwanted applications, refrain from downloading apps from unofficial sources and keep security software on your Android up-to-date,“ concludes Stefanko.
More information about the scareware threatening Android users on WeLiveSecurity.com.
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