Google Play Rid off Nearly 150 Android Applications Carrying Malware Tailored for Windows

Following one report that Palo Alto Networks the security firm provided, Google recently cleaned its authorized Play Store off 145 Android applications which had been carrying Windows malicious program. The malware contained PE, meaning Portable Executable, files. The maximum number of the said Android applications found their earliest release during October-November 2017.

Security researchers belonging to Palo Alto Networks analyzed the contaminated Android applications after which they reported about those apps to Google. The Internet giant then took down those apps off its Google Play. Names assigned to the contaminated applications were like "Gymnastics Training Tutorial," "Modification Trail," and "Learn to Draw Clothing."

Interestingly, since the applications contained malevolent Windows executables, the related malware were incapable of causing damage to Android's mobile OS. All of the mentioned executable files were compatible with solely Windows-powered devices.

Further as a matter of fact, developers of the malicious executable files in the Android apps were same as who provided both the contaminated as well as non-contaminated applications for Google Play. The same creators of the two types of applications used separate development environments. The report from Palo Alto researchers delineates that each of the contaminated applications contained over 1,000 installations, while they had 4-star ratings individually.

The report elaborates that among all the contaminated applications in discussion, a single APK file likely had more than one malevolent PE file at separate points while their file names also differed. Nevertheless, a total of 2 PE files were chiefly implanted over the range of all the contaminated applications, states the report.

What's more, in case any contaminated application's APK file was released onto a Windows system followed with execution of the PE files, there was a likelihood that destruction could potentially occur. Meanwhile, the situation could become even more dangerous in case the malware creators developed harmful files that could be run on Android.

During 2017 in the month of March, one likewise malicious program which caused destruction on Windows systems hit some 132 Android applications that were listed in Google's Play Store. The majority of those contaminated applications reportedly had their origin in Indonesia.

» SPAMfighter News - 8/10/2018