Google has made a concerted effort to try to eliminate bad apps for its Android mobile platform on the Google Play store – but fleeceware often sneaks past Google’s radar in significant numbers, according to security researchers.Ī Sophos report earlier this year found that these type of apps have been installed nearly 600 million times on 100 million plus devices. The offending apps, all likely the work of the same author, are: Mods, Maps for Minecraft PE Skins for Roblox Live Wallpapers HD & 3D Background MasterCraft for Minecraft Master for Minecraft Boys and Girls Skins and Maps Skins and Mods for Minecraft. In the case of the seven most recent apps, the reviews tend to be either a one- or five-star, with nothing in-between, and most have a low-star rating overall, according to the firm. Ondrej David, malware analysis team lead at Avast, noted: “We urge our customers to remain vigilant when downloading any app from unknown developers and to always carefully research user reviews and billing agreements before subscribing.” Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Five of them have more than a million downloads each, and the other two have more than 100,000 installs. In this case, young children are particularly at risk because they may think they are innocently downloading a Minecraft accessory, but not understand or may not pay attention to the details of the service to which they are subscribing.”Īvast found and reported seven apps to Google, but as of Wednesday, they were all still active. “Scams of this nature take advantage of those who don’t always read the fine print details of every app they download. “Fraudsters expect the user to forget about the installed application and its short trial, or fail to notice the real subscription cost,” Avast researchers explained, in a posting on Tuesday. Users can easily find themselves paying hundreds of dollars for the app over time, researchers noted. The charges show up on victims’ phone bills, where they may or may not be noticed. These “fleeceware” offerings start with a “free trial” period but then automatically and quietly start charging up to $30 per week after that. Fans of the popular Minecraft video game are in the crosshairs of cybercriminals, who have loaded up Google Play with scam apps bent on fleecing players out of cash.Īccording to researchers, the mobile apps for Android fool users into spending hundreds of dollars per month, by offering skins, wallpapers and game mods for Minecraft and other games at super-premium prices.
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