Blog: Malware Which Targets Android is Detected

Kaspersky Lab, has detected a Trojan-SMS, a malware which targets smartphones running on the Android platform.

Kaspersky a well known antivirus software manufacturer has revealed this report in their latest update that cyber-criminals are distributing the new malware via the Russian-language sites. The Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.b, masquerades as a media player. A smartphone can only be infected if the user manually installs the application.

Trojan Sends SMS for Balance Transfer: Users of smartphones running Android are asked to download an application from an infected webpage in order to view videos. The installation file is only 16.4 KB and during installation the Trojan seeks the user’s consent to send SMS messages – a requirement that a media player is very unlikely to need. Once the user launches the fake application, Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.b begins sending SMS messages to a premium rate number without the user’s knowledge. The messages cost $6 each, resulting in heavy sums being transferred from the user’s account to that of the cybercriminals.

Don’t Allow Mobile Application:“Android users should pay close attention to the services that a mobile application seeks permission to access,” said Denis Maslennikov, Mobile Research Group Manager at Kaspersky Lab. “Automatically permitting a new mobile application to access every service that it says it needs to means you could end up with malicious or unwanted mobile applications doing all sorts of things without requesting any additional information.”

Two Similar Trojans: The code insideTrojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.b is similar to that of Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a – the first Android Trojan-SMS that was detected by Kaspersky Lab experts a month ago. This suggests that both of these malicious applications were authored by the same person, or group of people.

Rapid Growth of Android Mobile Phones: Android mobile device vendors have displayed the most dramatic growth in sales among all smartphone vendors worldwide. Kaspersky Lab’s experts predict that more malicious programs targeting devices running on the Android platform are sure to emerge in the near future and are currently making every effort to develop security technologies and solutions to protect this operating system.