2.8 Million Android Users Affected by 155 Trojan-Infected Apps in Google Play Store

Just about everyone with somewhat of a social life in this world and the proper monetary means has a smartphone. Among the billions of smartphones out in the world, about 2.8 million of them have been affected by nearly 155 Trojan-infected apps from the Google Play Store that collects personal details and displays annoying and potentially malicious pop-up advertisements.

Discovered by security firm Dr.Web, is over 100 apps on the Google Play Store that are infected with Android.Spy.277, which is a data-stealing Trojan horse that steals data and displays ads on top of the phone's home screen and other apps.

Google was recently notified by Dr.Web of their discovery of malicious apps on the store. Unfortunately, Google has not yet removed all of the malicious apps, and 2.8 million users are suspected to be infected with the latest version of Android.Spy.277, which is now identified as Android.Spy.305.

The actions of Android.Spy.305 is very discerning as it collects colossal amounts of personal data from an infected Android device. Among the type of data gathered by the Android.Spy.305 Trojan, it is able to seek an infected smartphone's device name, model, IMEI, user's email address, OS version, and OS language. The collection of such data would essentially enable a hacker to conduct other malicious activities against a victimized Android smartphone user. For instance, a phone could be cloned, and a substantial cell phone bill may be racked up. The possibilities are nearly endless.

To make matters worse in the situation of a hundred or so malicious apps circulating on the Google Play Store is that security researchers are estimating that 2.8 million users have downloaded the Trojan-infected apps. Though, it doesn't necessarily mean that 2.8 million Android devices are infected with the Android.Spy.307 Trojan horse.

AT the current time, researchers believe that the Android malware is more focused on delivering advertisements instead of infiltrating and collecting personal data details on infected devices. Moreover, the apps detected to be infected with the Trojan horse have been identified as those offered by the following developers and others:

• Doril Radio.FM
• Fatty Studio
• Finch Peach Mobile Apps
• Gig Mobile
• MaxMitek Inc
• Mothrr Mobile Apps
• Sigourney Studio
• TrueApp Lab