Researchers from Panda Security discovered five malicious apps designed to enroll owners of infected devices into paid ones services mobile phone. The worst thing is that all the applications were uploaded to the Google Play.
These applications seem to target Spanish-speaking users. Their names were because they have now been removed from Google Play: Peinados Fáciles, Dietas para Reducir el Abdomen, Rutinas Ejercicios para el Gym and Cupcakes Recetas.
They just infect one device, περιμένουν το θύμα να ανοίξει το WhatsApp. Το κακόβουλο λογισμικό έχει σχεδιαστεί για να υποκλέπτει τον αριθμό τηλεφώνου του θύματος από το WhatsApp και να το uses to subscribe to premium SMS subscription services.
At first sight, applications seem harmless. They even give advice on various topics to avoid any suspicion.
Her experts Panda Security report that each application has been downloaded from 50.000 and 100.000 times. This means that they are infected by 300.000 up to 1,2 millions of users.
"The truth is that fraudsters earn crazy amounts from these premium services. With a conservative estimate, say, if they are paid 20 euros from each of their victims, they earn a huge amount starting from 6 to 24.000.000 euros" says Luis Corrons, Technical Director of Panda Labs.
