Users of Android OS have been warned about a terrifying malware discovered on the Google play store.
With over two billion devices running the Google mobile Operating system each and every month, its no doubt the most widely used pieces of software.
Android is one of the most used pieces of software in the world
Alert: Terrifying malware discovered on Google play store
Understand with me that this will be the first time such is happening for Android has been subject of high profile security alerts in the likes of Judy malware which saw about 36.5million devices infected.
This dangerous strain of malware has been discovered on almost 25 apps on the Google Play Store by security researchers.
This malware was named Exodus and has some terrifying functionality capable of rooting devices and boasting advanced spying features. Its also capable of gathering phone numbers and sending it to external servers.
Exodus extracted passwords, chat logs, contact details as well as created local audio and video recordings.
For Exodus to root a device, it used an exploit called DirtyCOW, which was patched by Google in 2016.
So any recently updated phone is thankfully immune to this, with Exodus then limited to gathering data available to other apps.
The existence of Exodus was revealed in a post online after an investigation by Security Without Borders and Motherboard.
After the Exodus was discovered last month it’s been revealed that Exodus has also made its way onto iOS devices.
The malware was circulated via phishing sites after the Apple Developer Enterprise programme was “abused”.
In a post online IT security firm Lookout said: “For the past year, Lookout researchers have been tracking Android and iOS surveillanceware, that can exfiltrate contacts, audio recordings, photos, location, and more from devices.
“As has been previously reported, some versions of the Android malware were present in the Google Play Store.
“The iOS versions were available outside the app store, through phishing sites, and abused the Apple Developer Enterprise programme.”
Apple have been informed by Lookout and addressed the issue so as long a users’ iPhone is up-to-date they will be safe.
Google also have removed the almost 25 apps found on the Google Play Store which had Exodus malware on it.
All Android OS users are hereby advised to be careful of what they install on Google Play Store.
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://247creaks.com/blog/alert-terrifying-malware-discovered-on-google-play-store/