Communications of the ACM
Over 2,000 Fake Android Apps Discovered
Researchers at Australia's University of Sydney found 2,040 counterfeit programs among more than 1 million Google Play apps.
Credit: University of Sydney
Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia found 2,040 counterfeit programs among more than 1 million Google Play apps.
Popular games such as Temple Run, Free Flow, and Hill Climb Racing were the most common targets for app impersonation, and several counterfeit apps requested dangerous data access permissions, despite not containing any known malware.
These kinds of fake apps are often used by hackers to steal user data or infect a device with malware. Users that install counterfeit apps can be vulnerable to hackers accessing personal data, and can be exposed to financial losses or identity theft. Said Sydney's Suranga Seneviratne, "Many fake apps appear innocent and legitimate—smartphone users can easily fall victim to app impersonations, and even a tech-savvy user may struggle to detect them before installation."
From University of Sydney
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Abstracts Copyright © 2019 SmithBucklin, Washington, DC, USA
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