Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Apps on Google Play Disguised as Security Tools Instead Serve Ads and Track Users' Location

posted by martyb on Friday January 05 2018, @03:50PM   Printer-friendly
from the the-play's-the-thing-where-I'll-capture... dept.

fliptop writes:

TrendMicro has discovered 36 apps in Google Play that execute unwanted behavior:

These apps posed as useful security tools under the names Security Defender, Security Keeper, Smart Security, Advanced Boost, and more. They also advertised a variety of capabilities: scanning, cleaning junk, saving battery, cooling the CPU, locking apps, as well as message security, WiFi security, and so on.

The apps were actually able to perform these simple tasks, but they also secretly harvested user data, tracked user location, and aggressively pushed advertisements.

The apps in question have been removed from Google Play.

Related: Google Pauses Crackdown on Apps That Use Accessibility Features

Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Apps on Google Play Disguised as Security Tools Instead Serve Ads and Track Users' Location | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 54 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 2) by KiloByte on Friday January 05 2018, @08:10PM (3 children)

    by KiloByte (375) on Friday January 05 2018, @08:10PM (#618490)

    Here, let me show you a program ecosystem [debian.org] with curated content. Every program has a vetted and verified license, no advertisements or spyware, and so on. Some good phones [indiegogo.com] ship with it, and you can use the very same software on your server, laptop, desktop or SoC if you wish. Attractive price ($0). More open to developers.

    --
    Ceterum censeo systemd esse delendam.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   2  

  • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday January 05 2018, @08:47PM

    by Freeman (732) on Friday January 05 2018, @08:47PM (#618506) Journal

    That's one phone, that's also, still in the prototype phase. I've used Debian and their package management system quite a bit. I was also looking forward to a Non-Vaporware Ubuntu Phone, but alas that never panned out. While I've seen some rather successful kickstarter / indiegogo campaigns. Not many have become a real business or even offered their product to anyone, but those that backed the campaign.

    --
    Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Bot on Saturday January 06 2018, @02:28AM (1 child)

    by Bot (3902) on Saturday January 06 2018, @02:28AM (#618589) Journal

    > with curated content

    why am I thinking about systemd all of a sudden?

    --
    Account abandoned.

    • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday January 08 2018, @03:32PM

      by Freeman (732) on Monday January 08 2018, @03:32PM (#619531) Journal

      In all fairness systemd has "quality control". It's just one giant heaping pile of dinosaur droppings. It's like on Jurassic Park, when the girl sticks her hands into the humongous pile of dinosaur droppings. Someone's gotta look at it, but one doesn't have to like it. It's not like, there couldn't be a different system. It's just no one cares enough to make something better. Those that do care enough to make it better, put on the gloves and hold their nose.

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"