Malware Worms Past Google Play Store’s Controls — Again

By / March 13, 2019

Like other app stores, Android’s Google Play Store attempts to mitigate the risk of malware exposure within their approved apps. Unfortunately, malware authors are finding ways to worm their way past these controls.

Most recently, cyber criminals developed an ad-serving platform which was included in approximately 200 different Android apps, likely without the knowledge of the app developer. This “ad-serving platform” would leave a backdoor open for malware to be installed on the device. Beyond the backdoor, the platform would also scan the device’s web browsing history and serve up fake ads to generate fraudulent revenues.

Since being found, the apps have been removed from the Google Play Store; however, that does not uninstall it from every device these apps can be found on. In total, the impacted apps have been downloaded over 150 million times. Due to the sheer magnitude of the download numbers and the number of impacted apps, it is important for Android users to do the following:

  • Review a list of all the impacted apps here
  • If the infected apps are installed, delete them immediately
  • After successful deletion, clear all cookies then run a security scan to remove any potential malware installed through the backdoor

** If the Android devices do not have antivirus protection installed, it is important users do so immediately.

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6 thoughts on “Malware Worms Past Google Play Store’s Controls — Again”

  1. Richard Stape

    I am interested to know if this software will work on an Android streaming box. If so is there somewhere online where I might be ab;le to see how it works and how to use it. My problem is that advertisements and gaming software ads keep popping up and interrupting what I’m trying to watch. Also. it somehow seems to capture a small sample of what I’m trying to wacth and creates a loop that replays until I reload the software and start over. Very irritating. I am already an Evergreen customer for my Windows based equipment.

    Reply
    1. Devin Bergin

      Hi Richard, it would depend on what version of Android the streaming box is running. You can however look in the Google play store to download PC Matic for Android. Once you install just log in with your Evergreen account and you can start testing!

      Reply
    1. Devin Bergin

      Hi Keith, we don’t currently have an active plan for iPhone but it may be something we launch in the future.

      Reply
    1. Devin Bergin

      Hi Don, You can install PC Matic on any android devices by going to the Google Play store and searching for ‘PC Matic’. Once you install, just log in with your PC Matic account.

      Reply

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