Beware of malware disguised as legitimate apps

It’s becoming frighteningly easier to be a victim of malware, particularly if you are an Android user. Androids are nearly 50 times more likely to be infected with malware than

iOS devices, because Androids are designed with an open-faced operating system, allowing anyone to jump in and modify an app should any errors be detected. As a result, the chances

of downloading malware from the Google Play store is an unfortunately likely prospect. Despite the Google Play Store’s ever-increasing efforts to detect malware and fraudulent

apps, hackers continue to find creative ways of avoiding detection, in what has come to be known as “Trojan” malware, seemingly harmless, even helpful software which is

intentionally designed to steal your information and infect your devices. Selling malware to reach as wide an audience as possible ThreatFabric recently reported that hackers were

recently uncovered selling the coding for ERMAC, a trojan specifically aimed at stealing banking information, in multiple forms all over the dark web, specifically targeting

Android and Windows users. Thanks to clever coding, the malware finds its way to the Google Play store under the guise of a pre-existing, legitimate app, but is instead a one-step

process for downloading malware capable of: Stealing emails Confiscate two-factor authentication codes Obtain information from cryptocurrency wallets Track all keystrokes on your

devices What sort of apps were compromised? ThreatFabric reported that the apps which were deviously laced with malware, under the guise of another app, included: WiFI

AutoAuthenticator- easing logins when changing network connectivity Football live stream- live-streamed soccer programming OGINsta- posing as the original “Instagram” VidMate-

A video downloading platform Is there a way to avoid downloading malware? As mentioned above, the programming of Android devices means that it is still possible to download malware

directly from the Google Play store. That being said, this particular attack was successful because these apps were advertised on various social media platforms, which led to links

encouraging users to download the apps from a third party. If the chances of being free from malware in the google play store are not a 100% guarantee, it is infinitely less likely

than if you downloaded it from social media or a third party. So, no matter how helpful or fun any apps you see advertised on social media may appear, resist the urge to click on

those links, and only download them directly from the Google Play store.   Take advantage of Google’s built-in malware defense. While the Google Play store does have a screening