Android malware issues have recently been in the spotlight for users of the Google Play Store. According to security research members of Trend Micro, there are more than 85 apps within the store that had adware contained. Sadly, these apps have been downloaded cumulatively more than eight million times.
These apps with adware were posted in Play Store as legitimate services that focused on things such as photography and gaming. Adware is a type of malicious malware that enters your device through downloaded applications. Once downloaded, it will serve you with advertisements and other annoying issues.
Aside from the annoying pop-ups and advertisements this type of adware comes loaded with, it also makes it very hard to close the advertisements and uses unique techniques to help avoid being detected through time-based triggers and the smartphone user’s behavior.
The malicious adware applications can hide their specific icons within the smartphone and automatically create a shortcut on the downloader’s phone on the home screen. Oftentimes, this happens after the original application was downloaded. Because of where they hide on the smartphone, it makes it impossible to be uninstalled by simply clicking on the icon and dragging it to the uninstall section.
These malicious applications use something called “Java reflection” to allow the application’s runtime behavior unable to be modified or inspected. Meanwhile, the unwanted app will register itself to a broadcast receiver which allows it to check if the phone has been unlocked. If it has been, the advertisements will begin popping up. Ads will be displayed fully across the screen and users will be unable to close until they are done playing.
Fortunately, the disclosure from Trend Micro made sure these apps with malicious malware were no longer available in the Google Play Store. For those who were already affected before the applications were removed, they must go through a few steps to clear the application from their smartphone.
Samsung experts suggest trying to uninstall the malicious app to see if it helps. If the advertisements are still popping up, invest in an adware cleanup software that may be able to clean up your smartphone. If both of these options fail, it may be necessary for the owner to do a complete factory reset of their phone.
Even though it should be common knowledge not to download applications from websites you do not trust, it is important to be vigilant when downloading through the Google Play Store as well.
