ESET Discovered the Broad-Scale Cyberattack on Google Play

by Samuel White

ESET antivirus provider discovered a long-lasting cyberattack on Google Play which affected millions of Android users. ESET informed on its website they found 42 applications that were related to the spreading of unwanted ads software.

Google removed that content right after notifying the ESET; however, scareware is still available in third-party stores. Apps disguise themselves as plain, real games, online radio, apps for video downloading. They perform the declared functions and work as advertising software simultaneously.

Apps use tricks to get on devices and stay undetected as long as possible. For example, the user can’t see ads until the device is unlocked. If you try to find out what kind of app runs the commercial, the malware replaces itself as Facebook or Google.