14 DAY TRIAL // Researchers from Lookout report that malicious mobile applications that seamlessly send SMS messages to premium-rate numbers are seen more often on Android Market, carefully masqueraded to look like legitimate software.
While European countries such as Czech Republic, Poland, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine, Estonia, Great Britain, Italy, Israel, France, and Germany seem to be the main targets, citizens from North American countries may also fall victims.
A new threat called RuFraud seems to be the one that makes the Android Market look bad for offering dozens of malevolent apps.
Just last week, Google was informed of 9 identical applications that appeared on the Android marketplace and worryingly, all of them were designed to look as appealing as possible. Wallpaper apps for movies such as Twilight and downloaders for popular games like Angry Birds or Cut the Rope were found to hide some devious scheme.
Fortunately for Android enthusiasts, Google acted quickly on the notifications and took down the apps before too many of their customers managed to download them.
On the downside, Lookout almost immediately found 13 other alleged downloaders that offered mobile games and that time, they estimate that around 14,000 users fell for the scams.
The mobile security solutions provider deployed and over-the-air update that protects their customers from all the variants of RuFraud, but that still leaves a large number of individuals exposed.
Premium-SMS-sending malware has recorded a considerable growth in numbers which means that smartphone owners should be extra careful when it comes to downloading apps.
While the Android Market may occasionally host some malicious pieces of software, it’s still the safest place to purchase mobile programs. Users are advised to avoid shady or underground websites, since in most cases, even though they advertise fabulous free applications, in the end who knows what hidden agenda they might have.