Before the release of version for Android of Prisma, the popular photo conversion application, the Google Play Store flooded by fake applications Prisma of various types, including quite dangerous Trojan Downloaders. Before it is removed after being informed ESET, had already been made over 1,5 million downloads.
Prisma is a unique photo editor created by Prisma Labs, Inc. Having received excellent scores from users in iTunes, where it was first released, Android users were waiting for it in anxiety. Before the official release date, however, false versions appeared in the store "pushing" to the impatience of the users.
“Most of the fake Prisma apps found on Google Play did not have any photo editing functionality. Instead, they only appeared advertisements, warnings or fake surveys, luring the user into providing their personal information or subscribing to fake and expensive SMS services'; comments Lukáš Štefanko, ESET Malware Researcher. The ESET Mobile Security detects these applications as Android / FakeApp and protects users from them.
The most dangerous fake Prisma apps found on Google Play before the official Prisma app was released were Trojan Downloaders, which ESET detects as Android/TrojanDownloader.Agent.GY. Their goal is Mission πληροφοριών σχετικά με τη συσκευή στον C&C server, και, κατόπιν αιτήματος, να προχωρήσουν σε download additional modules and to their execution.
Because of its potential for download, the family malware of Android/TrojanDownloader.Agent.GY is a serious danger to more than 10.000 users Android who have installed these dangerous applications before being removed from his store Google Play.
“It was clear that the application Prisma would be awaited by the users Android, given its popularity on the platform iOS. Such situations often attract offenders who issue fake applications to Google Play Either copies or various derivatives of tutorials until Cheats - to take advantage of the wave of excitement " warns Closeš Štefanko.
Her experts ESET they recommend
Follow the most basic "hygiene" rules on Android apps:
- Download from only reliable sources
- Check the reviews and focus mainly on the negatives (remember that positive comments are usually "fabricated").
- Read the terms and conditions of the application, focus on the rights.
- Use a reliable mobile security solution.
When an app you want to get is popular, then consider the following as well tips:
- Rather, you will discover copies along with the original application, so be more careful than usual.
- Thoroughly check the name of the application and the name of the developer - they should be identical, and not look like the original.