14 DAY TRIAL // Malicious Android applications sometimes manage to find their way to legitimate app stores. A perfect example is the fake “Password Wifi Hacker Plus” app identified by Symantec researchers on Amazon’s Appstore for Android.
The developers of the application claim that it can crack the passwords of nearby Wi-Fi networks. However, experts say all the dialog boxes are fake.
In reality, the app does nothing but push advertisements in both the notification panel and via pop-ups.
“The application is bundled with six different advertising network components, some of which are quite aggressive,” Symantec experts noted.
The advertising components are not only annoying, but also harmful. Experts say they could leak information, such as the user’s location.
Symantec has notified Amazon of the existence of the fake “Password Wifi Hacker Plus” app. However, similar applications might reappear at any time, so users are advised to be cautious.