Tech Desk
Sep 25, 2024
As part of a harrowing development in the realm of mobile applications, Google Play apps and meddled-with versions of some popular apps are found to contain the deadly Necro Trojan virus.
Citing security researchers, Gadgets360 reported that it's a potentially harmful malware which possesses the ability to register keystrokes, steal sensitive information, install additional malware, and remotely execute commands.
Among a vast expanse of the Google Play app store, two apps have so far been diagnosed with this malware. Raising the toll of victim applications are modded (modified) versions of Android application packages (APKs) of Spotify, WhatsApp, and games like Minecraft.
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Google Play apps, modded APKs affected by Necro Trojan
The infamous trojan from the Necro family made its maiden appearance in 2019, when it infected one of the most used PDF maker apps CamScanner, with its original version in Google Play victimising 100 million users who downloaded the app.
Fortunately, the bug was eradicated by the rollout of a security patch that immediately set the grave issue aside.
The kind of Trojan in question is a distinct form of the Necro trojan which was spotted in two Google Play apps, according to a post by Kaspersky researchers.
The first of the two is the Wuta Camera app which has been downloaded over 10 million times, whereas the second one is Max Browser having more than a million downloads.
Much to the delight of those unaffected, Google removed the infected apps from Google Play after Kaspersky reached out to the company, the researchers claimed.
