Avast has discovered seven spyware, installed by 130 thousand Android users, capable of tracking the location of smartphones and spying on every communication
The "crisis" of the Google Play Store continues, unabated. The digital store from which Android users can download apps for their devices has long been the object of hackers' special attentions. Taking advantage of controls that are not as stringent as they should be, cybercriminals flood the store with fake apps or apps containing malware with the aim of stealing data or money from users.
Just a few days ago, for example, a FaceApp clone app appeared on the Play Store that, instead of aging the users' face, showed dozens and dozens of ads and ended up locking the device. This, however, is but the latest of many possible examples, with dozens and dozens of infected apps removed from the Android store and millions of users with compromised devices. The crisis, as mentioned, however, still continues and Google has been forced to once again run for cover in order to circumscribe the range of action of 7 spyware.
Spy apps on Android: what are they
Discovering the spy apps were experts from Avast, famous software house creator of one of the most popular free antivirus for Windows 10 and Android. The seven apps have been installed by about 130 thousand users and, once in memory, they take control of the device. Gli spyware, "travestiti" da app spia per SMS e GPS, passavano al setaccio tutte le informazioni presenti in memoria e monitoravano le attività dello smartphone infettato.
Gli spyware scoperti da Avast erano così in grado di "intercettare" gli spostamenti degli utenti, copiavano la lista dei contatti, delle chiamate e degli SMS e inviavano periodicamente tutte le informazioni così raccolte a dei server "madre". Al momento, non si sa dove siano localizzati questi server, ma ben presto potrebbero arrivare delle indicazioni precise. Le app, inoltre, nascondevano l’icona dalla schermata principale e dal menu, in modo da passare inosservate e continuare nella propria attività di spionaggio senza timore di destare sospetti.
Avast ha anche reso noti i nomi dei sette spyware, in modo da dare la possibilità agli utenti di riconoscerle ed eliminarle manualmente dal proprio dispositivo. Le app sono:
- Track Employees Check Work Phone Online Spy
- Free Spy Kids
- Tracker Phone Cell
- Tracker Mobile
- Tracking Spy
- Tracker SMS
- Tracker Employee Work Spy