A Tip From a Kid Helped Uncover a Slew of Scam Apps
4 years, 3 months ago

A Tip From a Kid Helped Uncover a Slew of Scam Apps

Wired  

Researchers said that a tip from a child led them to discover aggressive adware and exorbitant prices lurking in iOS and Android smartphone apps with a combined 2.4 million downloads from the App Store and Google Play. Posing as apps for entertainment, wallpaper images, or music downloads, some of the titles served intrusive ads even when an app wasn’t active. Acting on the tip, researchers from security firm Avast found 11 apps, for devices running both iOS and Android, that were engaged in similar scams. “Her awareness and responsible action is the kind of commitment we should all show to make the cyberworld a safer place.” The apps, Avast said, made misleading claims concerning app functionalities, served ads outside of the app, or hid the original app icon shortly after the app was installed—all in violation of the app markets’ terms of service.

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History of this topic

TikTok has known about how the app can harm teens and preteens, new documents show
2 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok has known about how the app can harm teens and preteens, new documents show

NPR  

TikTok has known about how the app can harm teens and preteens, new documents show AYESHA RASCOE, HOST: TikTok executives were acutely aware of the potential dangers the app could cause to teens but appeared unconcerned, even though the company's own internal research validated the fears child safety advocates have been raising for years. But in internal documents, TikTok admitted …

Apps to reduce smartphone use: A review of One Sec.
7 months ago

Apps to reduce smartphone use: A review of One Sec.

Slate  

A couple of weeks ago, I came across a viral tweet from journalist and cartoonist Gabrielle Drolet detailing how she had downloaded an app on her phone that opened her front camera every time she went to look at TikTok. got an app that opens my front camera every time I try to open tiktok and it is so violent …

Gap grows between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential ban
1 year, 9 months ago

Gap grows between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential ban

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — On the one side are dozens of lawmakers on Capitol Hill issuing dire warnings about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said during a nearly six-hour congressional hearing Thursday that the platform has never turned over user data to the Chinese government, and wouldn’t do so if asked. “America has the most …

Crypto scam app bypass security restrictions on Apple and Google app stores: Report
1 year, 11 months ago

Crypto scam app bypass security restrictions on Apple and Google app stores: Report

The Hindu  

Cybercriminals operating crypto scam apps have found a way to bypass security protocols on Apple and Google official app stores to publish fraudulent apps, a report from Sophos cybersecurity shared. Threat actors are remotely changing content to make fake apps slide through the official review process of Apple and Google app stores to post apps which are then used to …

Hundreds Of Android And iOS Apps Put Millions At Risk: Uninstall Now
1 year, 11 months ago

Hundreds Of Android And iOS Apps Put Millions At Risk: Uninstall Now

News 18  

The week has started with a serious concern for smartphone users across the globe. The list of the apps have been given by the DES and NCSA which includes apps like: – 4K Pro Camera – Beat Maker Pro – Art Filters – Blue Scanner – Chat SMS – Cool Messages – Easy PDF Scanner – Frames, Funny Caller – …

Apple to reveal more details about app removals from its App Store
1 year, 11 months ago

Apple to reveal more details about app removals from its App Store

The Hindu  

Apple has assured to disclose more details about why it removes certain apps from its App Store, according to a report by Financial Times. The Cupertino-based company will also disclose how many apps it removes for violating App Store or developer licence agreement guidelines by country. Encrypted messaging tools WhatsApp and Signal are not allowed in China’s App Store, for …

Malware Apps With 2 Million Install Pose Risk For Android Users: Find Out Why
2 years, 1 month ago

Malware Apps With 2 Million Install Pose Risk For Android Users: Find Out Why

News 18  

More than 2 million people have been tricked into installing malware, and phishing apps that have bypassed Google’s security checks to show up on the Play Store. The apps have been installed by over 2 million apps which is no small feat and raise concerns about Google’s apparent security standards of approving apps before they are listed on the Play …

Google Play Store Update: Apps with 20 million downloads got removed
2 years, 2 months ago

Google Play Store Update: Apps with 20 million downloads got removed

India TV News  

Google has recently removed apps from the Play Store, which had more than 20 million downloads. According to the McAfee report, Google identified the new Clicker malware that sneaked into Google Play. A total, of 16 applications that were previously on Google Play have been confirmed to have the malicious payload with an assumed 20 million installations. The security researchers …

TikTok’s troubles in U.S.
2 years, 6 months ago

TikTok’s troubles in U.S.

The Hindu  

TikTok may be out of India, but the service has not stopped growing. The Trump administration expressed national security concerns over the viral social media app due to its Chinese ownership. Separately, the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee chair and top Republican have called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate social media app TikTok and Chinese parent ByteDance due to …

FCC Commissioner Asks To Remove TikTok From App Stores Due To Security Concerns
2 years, 6 months ago

FCC Commissioner Asks To Remove TikTok From App Stores Due To Security Concerns

Huff Post  

Kiichiro Sato via Associated Press The head of the Federal Communications Commission is urging Google and Apple to remove TikTok from their app stores due to worries over data security. The head of the Federal Communications Commission is urging Google and Apple to remove TikTok from their app stores due to worries over data security. Carr, who mentioned a BuzzFeed …

A U.S. FCC commissioner urges Apple, Google to boot TikTok from app stores
2 years, 6 months ago

A U.S. FCC commissioner urges Apple, Google to boot TikTok from app stores

The Hindu  

A Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission has urged the chief executives of Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google to kick Chinese-owned TikTok out of its app stores. Brendan Carr, the FCC commissioner, said in a letter to the CEOs, dated June 24 and sent on FCC letterhead, that video-sharing app TikTok has collected vast troves of sensitive data …

Apple App Store saved users from dangerous fraudulent transactions worth $1.5 billion, know what happened
2 years, 7 months ago

Apple App Store saved users from dangerous fraudulent transactions worth $1.5 billion, know what happened

India TV News  

Apple had announced in 2020 that it has been protecting the customers from more than $1.5 billion USD fraudulent transactions on the App Store. In an annual update to the analysis which Apple shared last year, the company has further announced that $1.5 billion-worth fraudulent transactions have been stopped on the App Store. This is a must to mention that …

Six Android Apps Found To Be Spreading Banking Malware: Full List
2 years, 9 months ago

Six Android Apps Found To Be Spreading Banking Malware: Full List

News 18  

Market research firm Check Point Research has discovered six Android apps on the Google Play Store that are spreading banking malware by portraying themselves as antivirus apps. The six apps that have been found are named Atom Clean-Booster, Antivirus; Antivirus, Super Cleaner; Alpha Antivirus, Cleaner; Powerful Cleaner, Antivirus; and two version of the Center Security – Antivirus app. According to …

New Malware In Disguise Of Crypto Wallets Can Steal Money From Android and iOS Devices
2 years, 9 months ago

New Malware In Disguise Of Crypto Wallets Can Steal Money From Android and iOS Devices

News 18  

Mobile users have another malware alert this week, and this one is in disguise as crypto wallets on the App Store and is capable of stealing your money. As per the security report from ESET, the malware-infected crypto apps have been discovered in Android and iOS app stores. The design of the malware within the app meant users or the …

Attn Android Users! Immediately Delete Any Of These 151 Apps From Your Phone: Here's Why
3 years, 2 months ago

Attn Android Users! Immediately Delete Any Of These 151 Apps From Your Phone: Here's Why

News 18  

Malware or malicious apps are commonplace right now. According to a recent find from Cybersecurity software company Avast, 151 Android apps were part of a premium SMS scam campaign. The scam campaign, dubbed UltimaSMS used fake Android apps to sign up people for expensive SMS services. The apps disguised themselves as tools across multiple categories like custom keyboards, QR code …

Apple’s latest update gives users an easy way to report scams in the App Store
3 years, 3 months ago

Apple’s latest update gives users an easy way to report scams in the App Store

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Apple has updated its App Store with a new Report a Problem button …

Android smartphone users alert! Remove these 9 apps with hidden Trojan virus
3 years, 6 months ago

Android smartphone users alert! Remove these 9 apps with hidden Trojan virus

Live Mint  

The Android ecosystem has encountered a new batch of virus that hide themselves in applications. While Google Play Store may have removed these apps, users who might have downloaded the apps should also delete them from their device in order to steer clear from any further compromise. A cybersecurity service provider, DrWeb has published a new report showcasing the discovery …

iPhone App for Children's Game Secretly Turned into Cryptocurrency-funded Casino in Turkey
3 years, 8 months ago

iPhone App for Children's Game Secretly Turned into Cryptocurrency-funded Casino in Turkey

News 18  

App developer Kosta Eleftheriou has found that an iPhone app posed as a children’s game secretly turned into a cryptocurrency-funded casino in Turkey. The game called Jungle Run, now apparently pulled by Apple, for kids aged 4 and up, but, if you use a VPN or access the app using an IP from Turkey, it unlocks an online casino, reports …

Free apps that scam people later made $400 million in revenue, report says
3 years, 9 months ago

Free apps that scam people later made $400 million in revenue, report says

The Hindu  

Fleeceware are mobile apps that comes with a short free trial, and later charge an huge subscription fee. Hundreds of such apps have earned over $400 million in revenue on the both Apple and Google’s app marketplace, according to a report by security solution provider Avast. The team discovered 204 applications: 134 apps in App Store, and 70 in Play …

Google notified of 21 adware gaming apps on Play Store
4 years, 2 months ago

Google notified of 21 adware gaming apps on Play Store

The Hindu  

Cybersecurity firm Avast has discovered 21 adware gaming apps on Google’s Play Store, and reported them to search giant, and Google is investigating the reports. Off the 21 apps containing advertising supported software that automatically displays unwanted They have been downloaded about eight million times, according to the data by mobile app marketing intelligence and insights firm, Sensor Tower. The …

Cybersecurity Firm Avast Warns Google of 21 Adware Gaming Apps on Play Store, Android Users Beware
4 years, 2 months ago

Cybersecurity Firm Avast Warns Google of 21 Adware Gaming Apps on Play Store, Android Users Beware

News 18  

Cybersecurity firm Avast has warned Google of 21 adware gaming apps on the Google Play Store of which 19 are still available to download. At the moment, Google is still investigating reports on the adware gaming apps, the company added. After downloading them from Google Play Store, the gaming apps hardly offered anything from what they promoted but bombarded the …

Google removes 17 apps from Play Store that intend to gain user data access
4 years, 3 months ago

Google removes 17 apps from Play Store that intend to gain user data access

India Today  

Google has removed 17 Android applications from its official distribution service platform -Play Store. "This spyware is designed to steal SMS messages, contact lists, and device information, along with silently signing up the victim for premium wireless application protocol services," Zscaler security researcher Viral Gandhi said. As soon as Google was notified about the 17 malicious apps that intend to …

TikTok User Helps Researchers Identify and Take Down Adware Apps on iOS, Android
4 years, 3 months ago

TikTok User Helps Researchers Identify and Take Down Adware Apps on iOS, Android

News 18  

Researchers said a tip from a young girl helped them discover adware, available at exorbitant prices, which was lurking around in iOS and Android smartphone apps. The adware apps had a combined 2.4 million downloads on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The apps were being promoted on TikTok and Instagram, according to the ArsTechnica report and according …

Android Users Alert! The Following 'Fleeceware' Apps Can Cost You Thousands
4 years, 4 months ago

Android Users Alert! The Following 'Fleeceware' Apps Can Cost You Thousands

News 18  

Cybersecurity experts have revealed that a batch of misleading apps on Google Play Store has the potential to dupe users and cost them thousands. Researchers from IT security company Sophos added that these 23 apps clearly violate Google Play Store’s security policies as well. Chandraiah in his blog post detailed that the creators on Google Play use a ‘blind subscription’ …

Malware disguised as TikTok-alternative app is being circulated via WhatsApp, SMS by cybercriminals: Report
4 years, 5 months ago

Malware disguised as TikTok-alternative app is being circulated via WhatsApp, SMS by cybercriminals: Report

Firstpost  

Kaspersky has advised users to download apps only from the official app stores to steer clear of such fraudulent schemes. Several users were receiving an SMS or WhatsApp message from unknown numbers that was asking them to download an alternative to TikTok - an app called TikTok Pro. In a press release, the cyber security firm said that the message …

TikTok’s massive data harvesting prompts US security concerns
4 years, 5 months ago

TikTok’s massive data harvesting prompts US security concerns

Live Mint  

TikTok has become one of the world’s most popular apps by serving up a steady beat of lip-syncing videos and viral memes. Security researchers say TikTok’s information-collection practices are consistent with Facebook Inc., Google and other U.S. tech companies looking to tailor ads and services to their users. Previous versions of TikTok’s privacy policy warned users it could exchange information …

TikTok and 58 other apps leave Apple and Google app stores after India ban
4 years, 6 months ago

TikTok and 58 other apps leave Apple and Google app stores after India ban

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Apple and Google have removed TikTok and 58 other mostly Chinese apps from …

TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer addresses India employees, says it complies with 'all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law'
4 years, 6 months ago

TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer addresses India employees, says it complies with 'all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law'

Firstpost  

TikTok is among the 59 Chinese apps that were banned by the Indian government on Monday. A day after TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps were banned in India, TikTok released a statement saying that it is in the process of complying with the government’s order of banning the app and asserted that it has not shared information of Indian …

TikTok is a data collection service masquerading as a social network, claims researcher
4 years, 6 months ago

TikTok is a data collection service masquerading as a social network, claims researcher

Firstpost  

Research has found that TikTok was collecting information on users’ phone hardware, apps, network-related information, among various other things. Just after the Indian government banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps in India for ‘protecting user data’, a Reddit thread has picked up steam where a hobbyist researcher claims that “TikTok is a data collection service that is thinly-veiled as …

TikTok removed from Google Play and iOS App Store, company says it's talking to govt
4 years, 6 months ago

TikTok removed from Google Play and iOS App Store, company says it's talking to govt

India Today  

TikTok has broken its silence on the government’s decision to ban 59 Chinese apps. TikTok India head, Nikhil Gandhi issued a statement on Twitter, he said, “The Government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok and we are in the process of complying with it. TikTok continues to comply with all data …

TikTok caught snooping on iOS 14 users' clipboard data, issue addressed
4 years, 6 months ago

TikTok caught snooping on iOS 14 users' clipboard data, issue addressed

India Today  

TikTok was recently caught snooping upon people who were using iOS 14, mainly developers and select users. This could be figured out by a software update by Apple for iOS 14 that sends notifications to users whenever an app is found accessing their data. Infuriated iPhone users and software developers who received notifications described the app’s behaviour as “creepy” and …

Android users should uninstall these 36 fraudulent beauty apps, researchers warn
4 years, 6 months ago

Android users should uninstall these 36 fraudulent beauty apps, researchers warn

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Researchers from WhiteOps found fraudulent code in a number of beauty camera applications, with names such as …

Remove these 100+ Android scam apps if you have them: Here's why
4 years, 8 months ago

Remove these 100+ Android scam apps if you have them: Here's why

India TV News  

A new set of malicious Android apps have been found that could easily hack an Android smartphone. Delete these 103 malicious Android apps A recent report by CyberNews suggests that a network of 27 malign app developers have been found out. The 27 developers made fake Android apps, which were available on the Google Play Store and had a total …

Avoid these iOS apps have Fleeceware and can steal your money
4 years, 8 months ago

Avoid these iOS apps have Fleeceware and can steal your money

India TV News  

Usually, Google Play Store is the one being home to malware-laden apps or the ones with malicious intentions and Apple is the one coming with all the security. The blog post by Sophos Labs reads, "Fleeceware apps are not officially malicious, but they are unethical, preying on consumer trust with devious techniques designed to make money. This suggests that both …

TikTok's massive growth has Google, Facebook and rest of Silicon Valley worried
5 years, 2 months ago

TikTok's massive growth has Google, Facebook and rest of Silicon Valley worried

Firstpost  

A government intervention would probably be welcome news to TikTok’s competitors, who have been working from their usual crush-the-upstart playbook. “And we haven’t seen another consumer app make that much headway in attention market share in recent history.” At Snap, which some analysts believe is most threatened by TikTok’s rise because both target young people, the chief executive, Evan Spiegel, …

Apple bans these 15 Indian apps from app store, here's why
5 years, 2 months ago

Apple bans these 15 Indian apps from app store, here's why

India Today  

Apple has banned 15 apps from the App store after they were found infected with clickware. Wandera discovered that 17 apps on the App Store were infected with clicker trojan malware. Here are the names of these apps- RTO Vehicle Information, EMI Calculator & Loan Planner, File Manager - Documents, Smart GPS Speedometer, CrickOne - Live Cricket Scores, Daily Fitness …

How 18 Malware Apps Snuck Into Apple's App Store
55 years ago

How 18 Malware Apps Snuck Into Apple's App Store

Wired  

Despite some recent pronounced lapses, the iPhone remains one of the most secure consumer devices you can buy, thanks in large part to the locked-down ecosystem of the iOS App Store. That sort of adware makes regular appearances on Android, in part because that platform’s third-party app stores are riddled with bad actors. Wandera's security software flagged some unusual activity …

TikTok security: US lawmakers worry the app threatens national security
5 years, 2 months ago

TikTok security: US lawmakers worry the app threatens national security

CNN  

Hong Kong CNN Business — TikTok, the viral short video app where millions of teens post comedy skits set to snappy music hooks, is facing a growing backlash in the United States. US lawmakers on both sides of the aisle warn that the app could pose a national security risk, and are calling on regulators and intelligence agencies to investigate …

Google removes 27 apps that guided users to fake Play Store
5 years, 4 months ago

Google removes 27 apps that guided users to fake Play Store

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Google has removed 27 apps that prompted users to install a fake Play Store after researchers from Pune-based Quick Heal Technologies spotted these malicious apps of dropper category and reported the issue. These apps were designed to infect devices with adware after someone fell prey to their continuous installation prompts for fake "Google Play Store", Quick Heal Security …

TikTok flooded with adult-dating scams and fake accounts: Report
5 years, 4 months ago

TikTok flooded with adult-dating scams and fake accounts: Report

Op India  

Owing to its rising popularity, TikTok has become the latest target for scammers. Tenable’s Satnam Narang wrote in a blog post that these scams leverage the popularity of celebs and social media stars to redirect users to scam sites that offer adult content and ‘free’ likes and followers. “These profiles feature stolen videos from sources like Instagram and Snapchat, featuring …

TikTok is being flooded with scams luring users to adult-themed websites and fake 'like' generators
5 years, 4 months ago

TikTok is being flooded with scams luring users to adult-themed websites and fake 'like' generators

Firstpost  

Among the many issues that any growing social media platform has to deal with include scammers and spam. The wildly popular TikTok isn’t free from this hassle and as per a report from a security researcher, scams redirecting users to adult-themed dating sites are scattered all over the platform and rising in popularity. As per a report by Tenable’s Satnam …

Google removes seven stalker apps that may have spied on you
5 years, 5 months ago

Google removes seven stalker apps that may have spied on you

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Google has removed seven stalker apps that were available on its Play Store as apps for children's safety or finding stolen phones but were being used to stalk employees, romantic partners or kids. Mobile threat researchers at anti-virus company Avast detected the apps on Google Play Store that were all likely designed by a Russian developer. "These apps …

Apple reveals government requests to remove 'unlawful' apps
5 years, 6 months ago

Apple reveals government requests to remove 'unlawful' apps

India TV News  

Apple has for the first time published requests it received from governments globally to remove apps with "unlawful content" from its App Store. Also, read:Tim Cook rubbishes reports of Jony Ive frustrated with him In its latest transparency report for the period July-December 2018, the Cupertino-based iPhone maker revealed it received 80 requests from 11 countries to remove 770 apps …

Post ban, TikTok becomes top free app on iOS
5 years, 8 months ago

Post ban, TikTok becomes top free app on iOS

Live Mint  

Video sharing platform TikTok reclaimed the top free app on iOS and top free app in the "social" category on the Google Play Store, just days after the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench lifted the ban on the app, the company announced on Wednesday. The Madras High Court last month passed an interim order banning mobile app citing inappropriate and …

Despite the TikTok ban lifted, app still not up on Google and Apple app store
5 years, 8 months ago

Despite the TikTok ban lifted, app still not up on Google and Apple app store

India TV News  

A day after the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench lifted the ban on the short video-sharing app-TikTok, the app remains unavailable for download on both Google Play Store and Apple app store. Also, read: Realme 3Pro vs Samsung Galaxy M30 vs Redmi Note 7 Pro: How Realme 3 Pro fairs against the competition Followed by the Supreme Court's refusal to …

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