Researchers from White Ops Satori Threat Intelligence & Research team have warned about more than 40 apps that promise free shoes, but actually infect your smartphone with dangerous malware. If downloaded, the malware, dubbed TERRACOTTA, can be used to generate fraudulent ad impressions and bombard your smartphone with annoying ads.
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This discovery of 40 applications in Android which aim to distribute malware are simply the next in a long line of mobile applications being used to distribute malware of all kinds. It was recently discovered that at the height of the pandemic a Covid19 tracker app was hiding ransomware within, luring in unassuming bystanders hoping to keep track of the spread of Covid19. This use of ‘free trainers’ as a lure is another example of how cybercriminals attempt to gain access to an individual’s device. The key thing to remember here is that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is: Users should take notice of the applications listed as malicious, and also ensure they research any applications they are planning to download in advance of installation – Looking at the amount of downloads for example can be a good indication of legitimacy.