Tobias Stadler
Warning for Android users: Security experts have discovered a number of dangerous apps in the Google Play Store.Criminals try to lure users into a frequently expensive abofall using the fake software.The associated apps have already been downloaded over 10 million times.Affected software should be deleted from your device as soon as possible.
A large -scale fraud campaign was unveiled in the Google Play Store.As the IT security company Avast reports in a press release, employees of the company have discovered 150 fraud applications.All apps are part of a campaign baptized by Avast "Ultimasms".These were downloaded around 10 million times worldwide.
The applications are disguised as a QR code scanner, personalizable keyboards or camera filters.In fact, none of the apps have the promised function.Instead, she localizes the user and asks him in the appropriate language to enter the cell phone number and sometimes also email address.If you do that, you will be registered for a premium SMS subscription.This can cost up to $ 40 a month.
Fraud apps in the Play Store: In the meantime, all Android applications have been removed
Jakub Vávra, Threat analyst at Avast, says to the apps: "The apps were disguised as real apps by well-constructed app profiles in the Play Store.These profiles showed memorable pictures with well -written descriptions and often had high ratings on average.[...] Despite the high rating average, many of them showed numerous negative reviews of users who correctly identified the apps as fraud or fell for fraud."
The good news is that none of the apps can now be found in the Play Store.According to Avast, these were removed from Google.
Download: Avast Security & Booster für Android
Fraud apps in the Play Store: How to protect yourself
Jakub Vávra assumes that all the fraud apps discovered together are almost identical in their way, which means that a single player or a single group of malignant actors are behind the campaign."
In this case you can protect yourself if you deactivate the premium SMS option at your provider.Otherwise, general caution helps.Carefully check reviews from apps before downloading, do not enter any personal data such as telephone number or email address and do not download any apps from non-official app stores.
Here you will find a list of all Ultimasms applications found.
