New malicious spyware in Google Play

New malicious spyware spreading around in Google Play, threatening millions of Android users. The good news is that you're only infected if you downloaded a funny Russian app, intended to transcribe other common applications. The bad news is it's probably popular applications since millions of users have already been infected.

The spyware received the non-surprising name ‘bad news’, and is currently detected in 32 different applications, created by four different developers. We can’t tell  exactly how many devices got infected, because Google Play is not showing exact number of downloads, but only a relatively wide ranges, so all we can say now is that between two million to nine million, not bad for relatively new spyware.

The great wisdom inherent in this particular spyware is that it is installed in the form of advertisements server that alerts users later on, thus it does not look dangerous at the initial stage, or when it is placed in the apps store, because there is no initial spyware expression as it “wakes up” only after some time.

So what does this spyware do? Two things you would not be very happy to happen to your device. First, it sends false alerts encourage you to download other infected apps, including ‘AlphaSMS’ that in turn sign your name without your approval to premium SMS services that cost money.

Second, it sends your phone number and your device identification number to the Spyware’s developers - two pieces of data that when are in the wrong hands, the sky is the limit.

You obviously assume Google is doing something about this. You are right. The company operates the ‘Bouncer’ service that scans the applications for traces of spyware, but it is among the ongoing anthology in which no society cannot always win. Not even Google. As of today, Google removed all known infected apps from its store. On the other hand, it is only those that are known, it is unclear how many more unknown still out there in the market.