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“Anti-Virus Apps” Scam Hits Android, Windows Phone

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“Anti-Virus Apps” Scam Hits Android, Windows Phone


News

Tom Brewster

17:31, 15 May 2014

Fake, malicious anti-virus apps target Android, Google Play and even Windows Phone

Anyone remember Virus Shield? No doubt those that downloaded the anti-virus that wasn’t will remember it, as do most security professionals. Somehow, an app that promised security yet delivered nothing made its way onto Google’s Play store and duped people out of their money. Thankfully, people got their money back and the developer said sorry for the apparent mistake.

Yet cyber crooks caught on. They started to develop their own, considerably more malicious fake anti-virus apps. And they’re hitting up more platforms than just Android.

Russian security firm Kaspersky says it has uncovered two rather interesting fake anti-virus apps, one of which was discovered on Windows Phone Store. That’s right, even though Microsoft’s platform is as popular as a UKIP member doing a poo on a Nelson Mandela statue (I exagerrate… a little), cyber criminals have deemed it worthy of their attention.

Rather cheekily the scammers dressed their program up as a Kaspersky Mobile app. Unsurprisingly, Kaspersky was a little bemused. “This fake app pretends to carry out some useful activity such as ‘scanning’ files. But look closely at the screenshot and you will see that as well as showing ‘scan progress’ it is supposedly performing a ‘heuristic analysis’. As a rule, anti-virus solutions don’t display a separate progress bar for a heuristic analysis,” said Kaspersky Lab expert Roman Unuchek, in a blog post.

They didn’t stop at copying Kaspersky, though. They created their own Windows Phone Virus Shield, a Google Chrome Pro clone and a Netscape browser. Netscape? Did these crooks travel in time? Or are they just old and stupid? Either way, they’re idiot savants of the most hilarious order. 

The second fake AV, another clone called Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2014, was found on Google Play, hackers’ favourite store. In this case, the dodgy developers didn’t bother adding much to the design… 

“The fake app does absolutely nothing to protect the user’s device – the creators didn’t even bother to add a simulation of a scanner. Instead of a security solution the buyer gets nothing more than a fake app whose functionality is limited to random statements along the lines of a Magic 8-Ball set against a background of the Kaspersky Anti-Virus logo,” Unuchek adds. 

Indeed, they don’t seem like the smartest of crooks. They uploaded an app called “I Am Rich” for $100. I needn’t say anymore. 

Unuchek makes a good point too when he says, “the mechanisms put in place by the official stores are clearly unable to combat scams like this”. We’re likely to see increasing numbers of fake AV across mobile markets. 

So whilst the original Virus Shield app designer didn’t mean to cause any harm, they’ve inspired malicious developers to create a bunch of horrible software to trick people out of money. A lengthy slow clap all round is in order.

News Tom Brewster 17:31, 15 Might 2014

Pretend, malicious anti-virus apps goal Android, Google Play and even Home windows Telephone

Anybody keep in mind Virus Defend? Little question people who downloaded the anti-virus that wasn’t will keep in mind it, as do most safety professionals. One way or the other, an app that promised safety but delivered nothing made its method onto Google’s Play retailer and duped individuals out of their cash. Fortunately, individuals received their a refund and the developer stated sorry for the obvious mistake.

But cyber crooks caught on. They began to develop their very own, significantly extra malicious pretend anti-virus apps. They usually’re hitting up extra platforms than simply Android.

Russian safety agency Kaspersky says it has uncovered two fairly fascinating pretend anti-virus apps, one in every of which was found on Home windows Telephone Retailer. That’s proper, despite the fact that Microsoft’s platform is as well-liked as a UKIP member doing a poo on a Nelson Mandela statue (I exagerrate… just a little), cyber criminals have deemed it worthy of their consideration.

Fairly cheekily the scammers dressed their program up as a Kaspersky Cellular app. Unsurprisingly, Kaspersky was a bit of bemused. “This pretend app pretends to hold out some helpful exercise corresponding to ‘scanning’ information. However look intently on the screenshot and you will notice that in addition to displaying ‘scan progress’ it's supposedly performing a ‘heuristic evaluation’. As a rule, anti-virus options don’t show a separate progress bar for a heuristic evaluation,” stated Kaspersky Lab professional Roman Unuchek, in a weblog submit.

They didn’t cease at copying Kaspersky, although. They created their very own Home windows Telephone Virus Defend, a Google Chrome Professional clone and a Netscape browser. Netscape? Did these crooks journey in time? Or are they only previous and silly? Both method, they’re fool savants of probably the most hilarious order. 

The second pretend AV, one other clone referred to as Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2014, was discovered on Google Play, hackers’ favourite store. On this case, the dodgy builders didn’t hassle including a lot to the design… 

“The pretend app does completely nothing to guard the consumer’s gadget – the creators didn’t even hassle so as to add a simulation of a scanner. As an alternative of a safety answer the customer will get nothing greater than a pretend app whose performance is restricted to random statements alongside the strains of a Magic eight-Ball set towards a background of the Kaspersky Anti-Virus emblem,” Unuchek provides. 

Certainly, they don’t look like the neatest of crooks. They uploaded an app referred to as “I Am Wealthy” for $one hundred. I needn’t say anymore. 

Unuchek makes a very good level too when he says, “the mechanisms put in place by the official shops are clearly unable to fight scams like this”. We’re more likely to see growing numbers of faux AV throughout cellular markets. 

So while the unique Virus Defend app designer didn’t imply to trigger any hurt, they’ve impressed malicious builders to create a bunch of horrible software program to trick individuals out of cash. A prolonged sluggish clap all spherical is so as.

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