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19:25 16 July 2015

"Undeletable" App Removed

 

Google has blocked a fake app that blocked people from deleting it.

 

A fake app, which spoofed BatteryBot Pro, a legitimate app that monitors how much power a smartphone is using, has been blocked by Google.

 

The fake app sends premium-rate text messages and did not allow people to delete it, exploiting consumers who are not aware what they’ve installed in their phones.

 

"Android is the most widely installed mobile operating system so it's an attractive user base for attackers," said Rik Ferguson, vice-president of security research at Trend Micro.

 

"But undeletable apps like this exploit consumers who store their personal lives on a smartphone. We're reluctant to wipe our handset in case we lose something."

 

The fake app was submitted for approval to the Google Play Developer Console; it requested the ability to send text messages, install other apps, and track a user’s location as well as administrator privileges on the smartphone, which was later used to prevent people from deleting the app.

 

"This app targets people who are not confident with technology," said Mr Ferguson.

 

Meanwhile, Google said it did not comment on specific apps but said: "We remove apps from Google Play 

 

that violate those policies,"