Subj : Many Android apps have been installing adware for half a year
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Wed Jun 07 2023 16:15:03

Many Android apps have been installing adware for half a year

Date:
Wed, 07 Jun 2023 15:00:18 +0000

Description:
Tens of thousands of apps were recently discovered, tricking people into 
installing adware.

FULL STORY
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Tens of thousands of Android applications were recently discovered pushing 
adware on the devices for months. 

This is according to a new report from cybersecurity researchers Bitdefender. 
After deploying an anomaly detection feature to its mobile security solution 
last month, the company found 60,000 unique apps that pretended to be various 
security, utility, and entertainment apps but were in reality just pushing 
adware. 

The apps were being distributed through third-party websites, propped up 
solely for the distribution of malicious apps. None of the apps were found on 
the Play Store, it seems. Bitdefender says that its likely that the 60,000 
number is not final and that the number of malicious software is probably a 
lot bigger. Fake uninstall 

The threat actors would create these websites and then get them as high on 
Googles search engine results pages (SERP) as possible, probably also 
utilizing other distribution channels, such as social media sites, instant 
communications apps, email, and more. 

Once the victim installs the app on their endpoint, it would tell them it is 
unavailable in their region, and offer a quick way to uninstall it. However, 
the uninstallation process would never happen, and the apps would simply 
remain on the device. Read more 

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The developers also deployed a couple of other obfuscation methods to make 
sure the adware remains hidden on Android devices for as long as possible. 

Firstly, the apps dont automatically run once downloaded, as that would 
require additional privileges which would likely raise suspicion among the 
targets. Instead, they go the route all other apps take and wait for the 
users to run them. 

Secondly, after the uninstall process, the apps go to sleep for a few hours, 
after which they would register two intents that make the app launch upon 
reboot or device unlock. The intents themselves are asleep for the first two 
days. 

As usual, the best way to protect against such threats is to make sure to 
only download software from legitimate sources. Check out the best free 
antivirus programs right now 

Via: BleepingComputer



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/news/many-android-apps-have-been-installing-adware-f
or-half-a-year


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