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Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

Summary: Trojans appear in Google's Android Market.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

Fake apps which are in fact premium rate SMS Trojans have been discovered in Google's Android Market.

The Trojans were uploaded by a developer going by the name of "Lagostrod." The Trojans were disguised as free versions of popular apps such as Angry Birds and Cut the Rope.

These apps were quickly banished from Google's Android Market but more Trojanized apps by developer "Miriada Production" appeared (these have now been removed). Site such as AppBrain still list the apps.

So far premium rate SMS Trojans have only targeted Russian users, but these apps target users from 18 countries, including the UK.

If you've downloaded any of these apps, remove them immediately.

Topics: Security, Android, Smartphones, Networking, Mobility, Mobile OS, Hardware, Google, Collaboration, Telcos

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16 comments
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  • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

    What's comforting about Android is, you can cancel your text plan with the carrier and not worry about this stuff. Google Voice to the rescue!
    bstringy
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

      @bstringy,
      I feel so comforted.
      YaBaby
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

      @bstringy So who supervises Google? Do we need CIA/FBI help & why can't we get govt help to counter web "pirates" with all the tech/training we have paid for? If we sell our airwaves is lead to a 'pay' more or corporate control? :-)
      dancas2
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

        @dancas2 I'm having trouble understanding. Do you have a privacy concern with Google handling your messages? Fair enough. Is it any less with the carrier handling them?

        My point is simple. If the majority of malicious apps target premium text messaging, using google voice and disabling carrier SMS will remove the risk. It also costs much less.
        bstringy
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

      @bstringy ???Seriously!!! A lighted cover integrated with reserve battery. http://www.solarmio.com/en/OnlineStore.aspx
      sreeseche
      Reply Vote

  • Makes me happy to be an iPhone owner

    I simply don't have to worry about such nonsense.
    toddybottom
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

      @toddybottom your OS and device are still at risk even with a closed app store.
      bstringy
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

      @toddybottom

      Neither do I, even as an Android user. Why? Because I think about what I download before doing so. If it's too good to be true then it probably is.
      Win8AnUglyDisaster
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

    another alarmists blog in ZDNET...No I cant believe that?!!!
    jacjar1
    Reply Vote

  • I'll rather be in a walled garden then be Mugged every day

    just saying...
    Davewrite
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

      @Davewrite

      Or people could pay attention to what they download, and be safe regardless of OS.
      Michael Alan Goff
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

        @Michael Alan Goff <br><br>"Or people could pay attention to what they download, and be safe regardless of OS."<br><br>I'll rather RELAX then in a walled garden rather than WORK from being mugged.<br><br>(really this EXCUSE from android fans is TIRESOME. today people don't want to virus check their devices, keep track of lists of malware etc that's so PC so YESTERDAY. Sheesh. there's no tech , software or price advantage of android devices so why should I want to work so hard: the moment I falter in being careful I might get a malware? I have be aware this is angry birds malware version and this is not? sheesh. I'll rather be PLAYING angry birds without worry then keeping up with malware lists. )
        Davewrite
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

        Really?

        Looking for thirty seconds at an application, as some of those don't even have the right picture, is too much work for you? Not trying to get a paid app for free is too much work for you? I apologize if this comes off as rude, but anyone who is like that deserves to get infected.

        I don't have to keep a malware list because I use my brain. I don't get anything with "free" in the title when I know it's a paid app, and I also tend to look at reviews. The only way to get a free app is... well... they have add-supported versions sometimes. It'll say that in the description. Another ten or fifteen seconds.

        Don't get me wrong, I like iOS. My sister has an iPad 2 and I happen to think it's fairly good. But to act as though the common, with a brain, person has to worry about malware is ridiculous.
        Michael Alan Goff
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

    Okay, so Malware makers target the big dog and this is surprising to you?

    These Apps were posted and Google removed then so I am not sure where the news is here...
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

      @Peter Perry <br><br>it's news because how many people have downloaded it, how did it get there and ARE THERE MORE? and will more appear TOMORROW. <br><br>point is if you use android and even if you download apps from official Google Market you have no idea if it's malware or not. and since most android malware scanners are useless people don't even know if their devices have been compromised.
      Davewrite
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Premium rate SMS Trojans hit Google's Android Market

        @Davewrite

        Use common sense, then you'll know.
        Michael Alan Goff
        Reply Vote
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