14 DAY TRIAL // Security researchers from Webroot have come across a couple of shady Android font apps hosted on Google Play. The apps install not only fonts, but also a piece of spyware.
The applications in question, Free Galaxy Classic Fonts and Galaxy Fonts, allow users to install additional fonts on their Android smartphones.
However, experts found that besides the fonts, an Android spy app called iKno is also installed. iKno monitors SMSs, calls, and the device’s location, and sends the information back to a remote website.
The Kenyan developer advertises iKno as a “monitoring/spy software for Android smartphones and tablets.”
Fortunately, both apps and the developer’s account have been removed from Google Play.
On the other hand, spyware can always be bundled with other apps, which is why experts recommend Android users to install a mobile security solution on their devices. Also, never install applications that request more permissions than they should.