Malicious Versions of Best-Selling Android Games Spreading In Russia
Despite the presence of the legitimate Google Play app store, cybercriminals are still hooking users by distributing malicious Android games themselves. Now, they’re taking advantage of a list of best-selling Android games.
As before, the criminals have created .RU domains for each Android game they’re (supposedly) distributing. Links to these domains will spread via forum or blog posts, as well as email. Here’s a full list of the games that are being used by this new wave of mobile malware:
If you look closely at the above list, you can see the wide selection of targeted apps. These include newly developed games like Cut the Rope: Experiments and Amazing Alex; Editor’s Choice apps like World of Goo, Shadowgun, Sprinkle, Where’s My Water, Osmos HD, Riptide GP and Angry Birds Space Premium. Many of these are top sellers as well.
Aside from best-selling games, some popular movie franchises like The Amazing Spiderman and The Dark Knight Rises are also being exploited, even if the actual games themselves don’t exist. Here’s the page for the supposed Spiderman game:
All of the download links in these pages actually redirect users to a separate site, where the malicious APK files are actually hosted. Some of the sites in question also include QR codes, although these lead to the same files. (We detect these files as ANDROIDOS_SMSBOXER.B.) This particular malware family is notorious for abusing premium services numbers, which may result in high phone charges for the user.
Trend Micro customers are now protected by blocking the malicious URLs and detecting the files via the Smart Protection Network. In particular, Trend Micro Mobile Security for Android also detects these malicious apps, preventing their installation on mobile devices.
As we mentioned earlier, these particular attacks against Russian Android users are not new. Previous attacks have claimed they were websites for Angry Birds Space, Farm Frenzy 3 and Temple Run. (We have compiled a Web Attack entry discussing these threats as well.)
Post from: TrendLabs | Malware Blog – by Trend Micro
Malicious Versions of Best-Selling Android Games Spreading In Russia
Spotlight
Cloud Computing
- Cloud security group develops third-party certification program
- US makes large investment in cyber weaponry
- Wall Street has data security concerns over Bloomberg reporting
- Security in backups means more than just encryption
Virtualization
- Virtualization-specific challenges could threaten data security
- Evolving threats put security skills in high demand
- Virtualization security requires education, access control management
- Tips for launching effective virtual security tools
Internet Safety
- Virtualization-specific challenges could threaten data security
- Evolving threats put security skills in high demand
- Virtualization security requires education, access control management
- Tips for launching effective virtual security tools
Vulnerabilities & Exploits
CTO Insights
First Line of Defense
Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest news and information on online threats.
Recent News
- DHS needs better sharing plan, experts say
- Cloud security group develops third-party certification program
- US makes large investment in cyber weaponry
- SEC may ask for more information after cyberattacks
Tag Cloud
cloud cloud computing cloud computing security Cloud Security Compliance & Regulations Consumerization Current News cybercrime Data Privacy data security Encryption Government Policy Internet Protection Internet Safety Internet Safety - DO NOT USE Internet Security Malware Mobile Security Mobility Policy Policy - DO NOT USE Privacy Privacy & Policy Private Cloud Public Cloud Reports Research Spotlight threat intelligence threat research Trend Labs Underground Economy virtualization Vulnerabilities Vulnerabilities - DO NOT USE web security web threats
Comments
No comments yet
The comments are closed.