One of the biggest malware outbreaks on Android has just hit users through Google’s own Play Store.

The malware was found in at least 50 apps installed through Play which all carried a similar version of the malware. It is estimated that millions of devices were affected by the installs, according to Check Point Software.

“This was one of the most extensive malware campaigns to infiltrate Google Play Store, both in size and in its malicious effect,” Daniel Padon, an employee at Check Point.

Unlike most malware, which generates money from pop-up ads, this recent outbreak directly hit users in the pocket by auto-subscribing users to expensive SMS services. Each time a message was recieved from these services a fee was deducted from the user’s balance or charged to their monthly bill.

Malware experts named the malware “ExpensiveWall”, dubbed such due to one of the of the infected apps, “Lovely Wallpaper.” Other notable infected apps included “I Love Filter,” “Tool Box Pro,” and “Horoscope.”

The malware evaded Google’s security filters by using an advanced form of “packing,” which is a method that compresses and encrypts infected code.

Check Point notified Google, after which Google removed the offending apps from the Play Store. Immediately following this another version of the malware popped up and infected 5000 devices before Google took reign again.

List of known apps with the SMS malware
Package Name App Name min max Uploadedto Google Play
com.star.trek I Love Fliter 1000000 5000000 18/09/16
com.newac.toolbox Tool Box Pro 500000 1000000 19/10/15
com.newac.wallpaper X WALLPAPER 500000 1000000 27/09/15
com.yeahmobi.horoscopeinter Horoscope 500000 1000000 16/03/15
com.gkt.xwallpaper X Wallpaper Pro 500000 1000000 02/06/15
com.gwqcv.zsfy Beautiful Camera 100000 500000 11/05/17
com.hdsj.hdey Color Camera 100000 500000 16/03/17
com.lovephoto.gp.inter Love Photo 100000 500000 13/03/17
com.parrot.tidecmr Tide Camera 100000 500000 22/03/17
com.zerg.charmingcmr Charming Camera 100000 500000 22/03/17
com.constellation.prophecy Horoscope 100000 500000 30/06/16
com.desktoptools.screenunsubscribe DIY Your Screen 100000 500000 21/07/16
com.gkt.ringtonegp Ringtone 100000 500000 02/06/15
com.gpthtwo.horoscope ดวง 12 ราศี Lite 100000 500000 03/11/15
com.guard.defend Safe locker 100000 500000 17/06/16
com.newac.wifibooster Wifi Booster 100000 500000 04/11/15
com.newera.desktop Cool Desktop 100000 500000 30/06/16
com.newera.toolbox useful cube 100000 500000 12/06/16
com.pl.toolboxpro Tool Box Pro 100000 500000 22/01/16
com.something.someone Useful Desktop 100000 500000 17/09/16
com.yeahmobi.horoscope ดวง 12 ราศี Lite 100000 500000 20/28/2014
com.yeahmobi.horoscopegpadap Horoscope2.0 100000 500000 23/03/15
com.cegqz.uoud Yes Star 50000 100000 03/05/17
com.cmr.shiny Shiny Camera 50000 100000 03/05/17
com.johg.udrad Simple Camera 50000 100000 07/07/17
com.scamera.smiling Smiling Camera 50000 100000 07/06/17
com.cmr.universal Universal Camera 50000 100000 16/05/17
com.gb.toolbox Amazing Toolbox 50000 100000 23/03/16
com.genesis.awesome Easy capture 50000 100000 24/10/16
com.newera.memorydoctor Memory Doctor 50000 100000 15/06/16
com.pl.toolbox Tool Box Pro 50000 100000 08/12/15
com.sexy.pic Reborn Beauty 50000 100000 28/07/16
com.joy.photo.gp.inter Joy Photo 50000 100000 02/08/16
com.fancy.camera.gp.inter Fancy Camera 50000 100000 09/08/16
com.amazing.photo.gp.inter Amazing Photo 50000 100000 13/09/16
com.amazing.camera.ggi Amazing Camera 50000 100000 05/01/17
com.super.wallpaper.gp.inter Super Wallpaper 50000 100000 30/08/16
com.aolw.maoa DD Player 10000 50000 13/03/17
com.bbapcmr.fascinating Fascinating Camera 10000 50000 13/04/17
com.coral.muse Universal Camera 10000 50000 13/07/17
com.cream.lecoa Cream Camera 10000 50000 27/03/17
com.dmeq.oopes Looking Camera 10000 50000 23/05/17
com.dosl.wthre DD Weather 10000 50000 23/05/17
com.fqaf.dlksk Global Weather 10000 50000 03/05/17
com.ivxz.ykvlf Love Fitness 10000 50000 23/05/17
com.jpst.lsyk Pretty Pictures 10000 50000 06/04/17
com.kifb.mifv Cool Wallpapers 10000 50000 10/01/17
com.magic.beautycmr Beauty Camera 10000 50000 04/04/17
com.opaly.nqib Love locker 10000 50000 12/05/17
com.real.stargh Real Star 10000 50000 27/02/17
com.sadcmr.magic Magic Camera 10000 50000 14/06/17
com.scamera.wonder Wonder Camera 10000 50000 14/06/17
com.scmr.funny Funny Camera 10000 50000 02/06/17
com.simon.easy Easy Camera 10000 50000 28/02/17
com.smgft.keyboard Smart Keyboard 10000 50000 14/06/17
com.xnoc.jdvy Travel Camera 10000 50000 02/05/17
com.yiuw.fhly Photo Warp 10000 50000 20/01/17
com.yjmn.vokle Lovely Wallpaper 10000 50000 07/07/17
com.ysyg.wtmca Lattice Camera 10000 50000 09/06/17
fast.bats.chaz Quick Charger 10000 50000 08/05/17
com.upcamera.xgcby Up Camera 10000 50000 18/01/17
com.photo.power.gp Photo Power 10000 50000 23/11/16
com.asdf.fg.hdwallpaper HDwallpaper 10000 50000 13/12/16
com.gb.wonderfulgames Wonderful Games 10000 50000 09/04/16
com.gkt.fileexplorer BI File Manager 10000 50000 01/08/16
com.gkt.wallpapershd Wallpapers HD 10000 50000 03/01/16
com.kevin.beautyvideo Beautiful Video-Edit your Memory 10000 50000 22/09/16
com.newera.beautifulphoto Wonderful Cam 10000 50000 12/06/16
com.next.toolset useful cube 10000 50000 30/06/16
com.ringtone.freshac Ringtone 10000 50000 26/11/15
com.gkt.gamebar Exciting Games 10000 50000 15/09/15
com.replica.adventure.gp Replica Adventure 10000 50000 07/07/16
com.gg.player.gp GG Player 10000 50000 12/07/16
com.love.camera.gp Love Camera 10000 50000 20/10/16
com.oneshot.beautify.gp Oneshot Beautify 10000 50000 01/08/16
com.pretty.camera.gp Pretty Camera 10000 50000 18/10/16
com.hygk.hlhy CuteCamera 5000 10000 22/02/17
com.kkcamera.akbcartoon Cartoon Camera-stylish, clean 5000 10000 08/03/17
com.craft.decorate Art Camera 5000 7000 13/08/17
com.amazing.video.gp Amazing Video 5000 10000 16/11/16
com.fine.photo.gp Fine Photo 5000 10000 22/12/16
com.applocker.coldwar Infinity safe 5000 10000 09/09/16
com.final.horosope Magical Horoscope 5000 10000 21/02/17
com.gp.toolboxche Toolbox 5000 10000 28/04/16
com.prettygirl.newyear Cute Belle 5000 10000 12/01/17
com.roy.cartoonwallpaper CartoonWallpaper 5000 10000 06/09/16
com.thebell.newcentury Ringtone 5000 10000 01/08/16
com.aypx.ygzp Best Camera 1000 5000 16/02/17
com.colorful.locker Colorful Locker 1000 5000 09/05/17
com.hlux.wfsha Light Keyboard 1000 5000 21/07/17
com.ytkue.oprw Safe Privacy 1000 5000 07/06/17
com.qwer.enjoy.enjoywallpaper Enjoy Wallpaper 1000 5000 03/11/16
com.file.manager.gp File Manager 1000 5000 13/12/16
com.highfirst.fancylocker Fancy locker 1000 5000 05/01/17
com.cute.puzzle.gp Cute Puzzle 1000 5000 05/10/16
com.keyboard.smile Smile Keyboard 500 707 16/05/17
com.owexs.iouert Vitality Camera 100 500 04/07/17
com.tools.yidian Lock Now 100 500 23/01/17
com.camera.kfcfancy Fancy Camera 100 500 20/03/17
com.hhcamera.useful Useful Camera 100 224 06/03/17
com.owexs.iouert Vitality Camera 100 224 04/07/17
com.sec.transfer Sec Transfer 100 136 14/03/17
com.tools.yidian Lock Now 100 500 23/01/17
com.bpmiddle.oneversion Magic Filter 100 224 21/09/16
com.funny.video.gp Funny Video 100 500 07/10/16
com.ads.wowgames Amazing Gamebox 100 224 22/05/16
com.wtns.superlocker Super locker 10 50 25/04/17
com.musicg.ckiqp Music Player 1 2 06/04/17
Total 5904511 21101567

[collapse]

There were some red flags for the malware as users left reviews which reported the issue. However, it is notoriously difficult for Google to detect this form of reporting because of “app review wars,” where competing authors will pay review services to leave bad reviews on a competitor’s app.

https://gizbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/rami-al-zayat-170349-450x300.jpghttps://gizbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/rami-al-zayat-170349-150x150.jpgDamian ParsonsTechOne of the biggest malware outbreaks on Android has just hit users through Google's own Play Store. The malware was found in at least 50 apps installed through Play which all carried a similar version of the malware. It is estimated that millions of devices were affected by the installs,...



Related Posts

Meizu reveals flagship 16:9 Meizu 15 Plus with optical image stabilization

Meizu reveals flagship 16:9 Meizu 15 Plus with optical image stabilization

Meizu 15 review specs, camera images, and release date

Meizu 15 review specs, camera images, and release date

Samsung still using two different main sensors in its flagship

Samsung still using two different main sensors in its flagship

Elephone S8 Pro review specifications. S8 Pro is coming with an under-LCD fingerprint scanner

Elephone S8 Pro review specifications. S8 Pro is coming with an under-LCD fingerprint scanner

Decoy molecules represent potential cure for HIV

Decoy molecules represent potential cure for HIV

Huawei P20 has the #1 mobile camera in the world. A game changer.

Huawei P20 has the #1 mobile camera in the world. A game changer.