Trend Micro:
A survey of the top 50 free apps available for download in Google Play revealed that almost 80% of the samples had fake versions. These apps span a wide range of categories in Google Play, including Business, Media & Video, and Games.
Of roughly the top 10 apps in each category in Google Play, fake versions of the following were available:
• 100% of the apps categorized under Widgets, Media & Video, and Finance
• 90% of the apps categorized under Business, Music & Audio, and Weather
• Approximately 70% of the apps categorized under Games, Books and Reference, and Live Wallpapers
Typically, a fake version of an app is created by copying the .apk file and inserting code, with the possible goal of creating malware. While there are certainly knock-offs that have made their way onto Apple’s app store, there’s a review process to prevent this sort of malware factory.
Last sentence of the report reads, “Using an effective security solution such as Trend Micro Mobile Security for Android Devices is also strongly advised.”
Indeed.
A little bit like the insurance salesman highlighting the disasters that will befall your home unless you pay up.
True.
But the prevalence of fake apps (even if they’re “fake” in the sense of “pirated by the faker” rather than “complete trojans”) is pretty well-documented in general.
No argument there. I simply find the message is muddled by the intent–to sell more apps (which, ironically, might also be faked).