OVER 90 MALICIOUS APPS FOUND IN GOOGLE PLAY STORE ENDANGER MILLIONS OF ANDROID USERS

Thu 30 May 2024:

Cloud security firm Zscaler has uncovered more than 90 malicious Android apps lurking on the Google Play store, with unsuspecting users downloading these apps over 5.5 million times. One of the most significant threats identified is the Anatsa banking Trojan, also known as TeaBot.

These malicious apps, such as PDF Reader & File Manager and QR Reader & File Manager, initially appear harmless. However, once installed, they prompt users to download a disguised application update that contains harmful code.

Anatsa is particularly dangerous as it targets banking apps. Upon infection, it communicates with a command-and-control server (C2). When it detects banking apps on the device, it sends information to the C2 server, which then delivers a fake login page for those apps. Users who enter their login details on these fake pages inadvertently give hackers access to their accounts, enabling them to steal money.

Although Anatsa mainly targets financial institutions in the UK, there have been victims in the US, Germany, Spain, Finland, South Korea, and Singapore. Zscaler has likely alerted Google to these threats, although specific infected apps were not disclosed.

Users are advised to be cautious when downloading apps, ensuring they only use trusted sources to avoid such malicious threats.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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