Users stand at high risk, as thousands of Android malware are in disguise, and you might not realize that they’re there. In fact, they wear clever masks of popular apps that a good majority already have installed on their phones. And it’s clear that there is no good solution to remove them.
Lookout Security is a mobile security firm that has recently discovered some very sneaky and hazardous malware. In fact, they found 20,000 types of those particular infected apps, most of which act the same way. They essentially burrow deep into your operating system, installing and making it impossible to remove.
In fact, getting rid of your phone is the one fix.
They’re highly popular apps, such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Google Now, NY Times and Candy Crush. It’s hard to think that most people aren’t worried yet. However, before rushing to uninstall them from their phones, users should take not that this isn’t likely to happen from original apps downloaded from the Google Play Store.
According to Lookout, the official store for apps has not been hit yet. However, downloading any of those from a third-party app store, or some other lesser known source will open your phone up to the infection. This particular brand of malware is also especially clever. Unfortunately.
Those apps will actually work. Users will not receive a notification from their antivirus, and will certainly be able to use them as their intended purposes. So, while they’re chatting away on WhatsApp, or what looks like WhatsApp, the malware is digging itself deeper into the OS.
Upon installing the malware in disguise, the app will become part of your base operating system. There is no way of uninstalling it from there. In fact, unless you have the means to replace your ROM, a new phone is the only way to go.
The new ‘virus’ has been named a “trojan adware”, because it provides excellent ways for the hackers to make money. It allows it to continuously push ads on your phone, which generates money for the attackers. Even more, it will also enable it to install other apps on your phone without permission. This also brings more money for the hackers.
It has been found to be more popular for users in the United States and Germany.
It seems that malware makers are becoming more creative. They have moved from ‘ghost apps’ to apps that actually function like users believe they would. The problem would just be that they’re stealthily infecting, and spreading deep enough to never be removed.
It should be remembered that they cannot be uninstalled. So, if you attempt to delete your app and it works, it’s likely fine.
Image source: phonearena.com