Google apps fail to fight off malware attacks

Company mobiles are still being subjected to adware via Google’s Play app store, in spite of heightened security.

Mobile security firm Lookout, based in San Francisco, wrote in  the company blog that two adware families, NotFunny and HideIcon, have managed to infiltrate Google Play. The apps have been downloaded thousands of times by unsuspecting users.

This is in spite of Google recently tightening its processes when reviewing which apps can and cannot be added to the store.

Eunice Kim, product manager for Google Play, revealed in a blog post:

“Several months ago, we began reviewing apps before they are published on Google Play to better protect the community and improve the app catalogue. This new process involves a team of experts who are responsible for identifying violations of our developer policies earlier in the app lifecycle.”

However, Lookout has uncovered 13 separate instances of  NotFunny and HideIcon on Google’s app store, with download levels hitting 500,000 and 130,000 respectively, as reported by the store’s own counter.

The news comes after a similar finding in February by security vendor Avast, which uncovered adware on Google Play hidden in card game app Durak, along with other apps. The adware received over five million downloads.

Google will likely now have to increase its security even more when it comes to reviewing app submissions. In truth, every business needs to take the same approach, with so many cyber attacks in recent years. This is why cyber security jobs have become such prominent roles, and are expected to become even more so in the future.