Table of Contents
Malware alert, in 13 Android apps
A new malware has been discovered in the Google Play Store by McAfee Research Team. The Xamalicious virus, discovered by McAfee experts is capable of gaining total control of a smartphone in only a few steps. It was hidden in the code of 13 Android apps issued through the official store.
Malware has been spotted on the Google Play Store by McAfee security experts. The software, nicknamed Xamalicious, is meant to take control of a smartphone by using social engineering tactics first. Clearly, fraudsters will persuade their victim to allow the infected programme access permissions. These are permissions that give access to operating system functionality. The software will just state that it requires full access to function. According to McAfee, the programme would “immediately ask the victim to enable accessibility services.” And the document “provides instructions for enabling this permission” .
“The usage of the Xamarin framework allowed malware authors to stay active and without detection for a long time, taking advantage of the build process for APK files that worked as a packer to hide the malicious code. In addition, malware authors also implemented different obfuscation techniques and custom encryption to exfiltrate data and communicate with the command-and-control server.” – says McAfee’s Mobile Research Team
The 13 Play Store application that need to be uninstalled right now
The malware was embedded in the code of 13 Android apps accessible on Google Play. Google has already removed the programmes from his store prior to the release of McAfee’s investigation. Here is a list of fraudulent apps that you should delete right away:
- Essential Horoscope for Android – 100,000 downloads
- 3D Skin Editor for PE Minecraft – 100,000 downloads
- Logo Maker Pro – 100,000 downloads
- Count Easy Calorie Calculator – 10,000 downloads
- Auto Click Repeater – 10,000 downloads
- Sound Volume Extender – 5,000 downloads
- LetterLink – 1,000 downloads
- NUMEROLOGY: PERSONAL HOROSCOPE &NUMBER PREDICTIONS – 1,000 downloads
- Track Your Sleep – 500 downloads
- Step Keeper: Easy Pedometer – 500 downloads
- Sound Volume Booster – 100 downloads
- Astrological Navigator: Daily Horoscope & Tarot – 100 downloads
- Universal Calculator – 100 downloads
Affected Consumers
According to mcafee data, the American continent has the most impacted users, with the highest activity in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. Clients across Europe reported the virus as well, particularly in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany.
If you want to checkout this in details or the coding part of things, checkout this blog by mcafee, sources: mcafee blog.
Also Checkout
TikTok’s sensitive Data Request Sparks Concern Among iPhone Users
List of the top 5 best selling smartphone in the US during October
iPhone 14 edges out realme C53 to become best selling smartphone in India in October
Android will start telling users when to replace your phone’s battery