Malware Apps Can Stay on Google Play for 50 Days?
You would think that every app that gets uploaded to the Play Store has to pass a rigorous security test before getting approved for public consumption, but you would be wrong.
A recent study from ElevenPath regarding Android security shows that an app that’s considered malware could stay on the platform for 51 days on average, and in some cases, that number could rise up to 138 days without notice.
What does this mean for our mobile security?
Despite always being told that we need to download our apps from an official and reliable source like Google Play or the iStore, reality shows that even their filters aren’t strong enough to handle malware all the time. Many malicious apps get a pass and are made available until they are finally detected and eliminated.
However, 50 days is quite some time. Imagine how many users could fall for these apps and risk their data. That’s why we need some kind of protection to keep our devices safe in case of unexpected cyber attacks.
Who Really Falls For Malware?
But who would be dumb enough to download an app with malware, right? Well, the signs of danger are not as clear as you might think. You could find a really well designed and striking app that seems useful but contains a hidden virus and once it has sneaked into your smartphone it’s already too late.
One of the biggest business models that these developers are exploiting is publicity. Given that announcers are paying for clicks and impressions, con artists are taking advantage of them by developing apps that contain adware. This type of malware reproduces or downloads advertisements on the user’s device without his permission, earning the attackers some easy money.
Adware is the most common malware out there and it’s probably the one that you should worry about the most.
“A lot of victims will pay a ransomware ransom, or attackers can gain access to a bank account, but the probability of that is relatively low compared to the amount of money they can generate by displaying ads. More audience, more adware, more revenue.” (Wired, 2019)
The attackers are smart. They know where the money is and will find whatever is trending to trick people into downloading their apps. Recently, FaceApp became a huge hit by allowing people to age themselves. A malware developer looks at this as an opportunity. So what do they do? They create fake versions of the same app, like a supposed “FaceApp Pro” that tricked thousands of users by promising a free premium version of said app. What they found instead was a lot of unwanted ads, polls, and subscriptions to fraudulent websites.
Do you think you’re smarter than them? That’s just one simple example. There are more sophisticated ways to do it. Just ask the 25 million users that got infected with the “Agent Smith” virus this past month. This Matrix-inspired malware simulated to be an Android app and automatically replaced the apps that were already installed on your phone with malicious code.
Don’t believe that you always will be the exception. Stay cautious to safeguard your phone from these threats.
Protect Your Smartphone
As you can see, even the official app stores are not guaranteed to be safe at all times. That’s why you need to make sure to always check the ratings, comments, and number of downloads of an app before downloading it. Also, double-check that the original website leads you to the same download link.
Despite what I’ve said, Google Play and the iStore are still the most secure app stores out there. Don’t fall for any third-party stores because they have even fewer filters than the ones mentioned above.
But as you can see, all these tips are not enough to guarantee a safe mobile experience. For that reason, our team is working on a mobile solution that will identify and block all kinds of ads and malware for you. The Online.io App is coming very soon!
