If you see this app warning on your phone, DO NOT ignore it
Malware droppers are hard to spot in the wild. They disguise themselves as legitimate login screens, fooling even the savviest of techies. Luckily, Google is making it easier to thwart hackers with a new malware warning.
This pop-up alert can save you from banking Trojans masquerading as app updates. This is a considerable threat, especially if you use banking apps on your phone. Tap or click here for six ways to safely bank from your phone.
Cybersecurity researchers blew the whistle on a new set of malware droppers you need to look out for. They have been downloaded from the Google Play Store 130 thousand times. Your phone could be infected.
Why you should be concerned
Last week, researchers with cybersecurity firm Threat Fabric broke some concerning news. They discovered malicious droppers in apps with over 130,000 installations from the Google Play Store.
If you’re unsure what malware droppers are, here’s a quick breakdown. Cybercriminals know that Google works hard to sniff them out. Thus, bad actors work hard to reduce their malware’s footprint so Google can’t detect foul play.
They evade Google’s eye by distributing malware through droppers on official app stores. To be more specific, they’re spreading SharkBot malware along with Vlutur banking Trojans. Tap or click here for a few fake antivirus apps that put your phone in danger.
These dropper attacks can download, install and launch malicious programs on your smartphone. They keep a low profile because they don’t ask for a suspicious amount of permissions.
Plus, they don’t have malicious code themselves. The malware is often delivered to your device through an update.
Here’s how they get you.
It all starts with fake login prompts
App warning! 52 dangerous downloads spotted - Check your phone
While the safest place to download apps is from an official store, this is not always foolproof. Hackers and scammers can slip in malicious apps and cause severe damage before they’re caught.
Getting an app onto the Google Play Store is easier when compared to Apple’s App Store. Apple has higher standards for entry plus iOS is a closed ecosystem, while Android is open source. Tap or click here for eight dangerous malware apps you need to remove right now.
The big reason the spam in your inbox is about to get a lot more convincing
Phishing scams involve gaining a user’s trust by imitating a known company or service. A scam can target you with a phony email from your streaming service provider, for example. They’ll ask for your login credentials or payment for a bill that doesn’t exist.
Check your phone! 17 apps you must delete
The start of the new year means letting some of the worst parts of the last fade into the background. But let’s be frank: Did you really expect the year to slide by without a single mention of malicious apps on the Google Play store?