Fake Android Antivirus Apps Laced with Malware Flooding the Market

There is no doubt that we have a serious mobile malware issue emerging, mainly effecting devices running the Android operating system. In the most recent findings by the Russia-based Doctor Web, new malicious in-app advertising schemes claiming to scan devices for viruses are primarily used to download a fake antivirus app.

Offering some type of antivirus solution for Android devices is becoming quite the popular action for many just due to the increase in mobile device malware in general. Android device users are beginning to become more curious of protecting their device from emerging viruses and malware, thus they now seek antivirus apps.

Offering an antivirus app through an advertisement has been a new-found way for hackers and cybercrooks to gain the attention of weary Android device users as the latest scheme is a primary way to exploit such users.

In examining the malware flooding the Android market, it was found that the fake antivirus spreading by means of malware-laced apps downloaded from in-app advertising schemes belongs to the Android.Fakealert family of Trojan horses.

The Android.Fakealert family of malware is known for notifying a user that a threat has been detected, and then offers a so-called full version to clean the threat. These actions are much like how rogue antispyware applications behave on a PC. The Android.Fakealert family of malware has been around since October of 2012 where it posed as a functional antivirus app pretending to detect malware on Android devices.

Those utilizing Android devices are advised to be cautious of ads displayed by apps. It seems to be a new-found pandemic among apps to utilize advertisements both malicious and legitimate. Just to be sure, it may be in the best interest for Android device user's to obtain trusted antivirus software.