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 Androis users on
WeLiveSecurity.com.