Hong Kong Google Play Store's Apps Security Risk Report (November 2013)
Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team (HKCERT) Coordination Centre cooperates with the National Institute of Network and Information Security (NINIS) for detecting malicious and suspicious behaviors of Apps from the Google Play Store, in order to study the security risk of apps in the Google Play Store in Hong Kong area. NINIS provides us analyzed result, and we collate the detection result and publish security alerts to the public.
In the report of November, we have downloaded 170 apps from Play Store, where 8 apps have been identified as high risk. 3 of them were removed from Play Store (on or before 26-November). The detail of report is shown as follow.
Target scope:
- Top 50 Free Applications in Hong Kong area
- Top 50 New Free Applications in Hong Kong area
- Top 50 Free Games in Hong Kong area
- Top 50 New Free Games in Hong Kong area
Scanned Apps
- Successful downloaded and scanned: 170 apps
- Unable to download via the system: 30 apps
- Downloaded date: 5-November 2013
- List of the downloaded apps: "Appendix 1" [download]
Analysis Overview
In this analysis, 170 apps were scanned for bad behaviors. Based on the level of security threat, the apps were divided into 2 categories: apps with malicious and apps with suspicious behaviors. Malicious behavior refers to apps behavior pose malicious level of security risk, which can be identified explicitly, that causes security threat to users. Suspicious behavior refers to apps behavior pose certain level of security risk, but no malicious behavior can be explicitly identified.
1. Scanning Result
Among the 170 scanned apps, 8 apps were identified as security high risk. These 8 Apps were identified with the following high risk behavior signatures, Android.Adware.Adwo, Android.Adware.AirPush, Android.Trojan.Generic, Android.AdWare.Leadbolt, Android.Adware.SKplanet, Android.Adware.InMobiAds, Android.Adware.AdMogo, Android.Adware.Domob, Android.Adware.MobWIN, Android.Adware.TapjoyAds, and Android.Riskware.SmsReg.
List of security high risk apps
Application | High risk behavior signature / Ad plug-in | Malware detection ratio by VirusTotal | Status # |
1. TV Peppa Pig v1.2 Category: New Free Applications | Android.Adware.SKplanet | 6/46 [link] | Removed from play store |
2. 周星馳電影 v3.4 Category: New Free Applications | Android.Adware.Adwo | 11/46 [link] | Available on play store |
3. 週末影院 v3.1 Category: New Free Application | Android.Adware.Adwo | 15/47 [link] | Available on play store |
4. 2014年開運寶典完整版-獨家開運轉運秘笈，讓你馬年行好運！ v1.0.3 Category: New Free Application | Android.Adware.AdMogo | 8/46 [link] | Available on play store |
5. 猛男让女人满足到巅峰的69式 v1.1 Category: New Free Application | Android.Adware.AirPush | 11/44 [link] | Removed from play store |
6. Race Illegal: High Speed 3D v1.0.12 Category: Top Free Game | Android.Adware.Domob | 8/47 [link] | Available on play store |
7. Bubble Mania v1.0.1 Category: New Free Game | Android.AdWare.Leadbolt | 7/46 [link] | Available on play store |
8. 捕鱼达人2 FREE v1.1.4 Category: New Free Game | Android.Trojan.Generic | 16/43 [link] | Removed from play store |
High risk behavior signature and Ad plug-in | High risk behavior |
Android.Adware.Adwo | It is an Ad plug-in bundled with App, which can steal user's private information, such as phone number and email address. |
Android.Adware.AirPush | This is an advertisement framework. It can aggressively push ad to device's notification bar. It can modify browser's bookmark, and remove icon on the main screen. The ads will ask for money. Some ads showed in the notification bar will lure user to subscribe and pay for SMS service. Three common luring ads are 1) fake shop, 2) fake free call service, 3) system notification impersonation |
Android.Trojan.Generic | This is a malicious backdoor Trojan, which runs in the background. It allows remote access to the infected system. It will collect and steal sensitive information, such as Internet activities, account/password setting, geo-location, and IMEI, etc. |
Android.AdWare.Leadbolt | It is a high risk Ad plug-in, which can steal user's private information, including phone number, call history, geo-location, etc. |
Android.Adware.SKplanet | It is a high risk Ad plug-in, which can steal user's private information, including phone number, call history, geo-location, etc. |
Android.Adware.InMobiAds | It is a high risk Ad plug-in, which can steal user's private information, including phone number, call history, geo-location, etc. |
Android.AdWare.AdMogo | It is a high risk Ad plug-in, which can steal user's private information, including phone number, call history, geo-location, etc. |
Android.Adware.Domob | It is an Ad plug-in bundled with App, which can steal user's private information, such as phone number and email address. |
Android.AdWare.MobWin | It is an Ad plug-in bundled with App, which can steal user's private information, such as phone number and email address. |
| Android.Adware.TapjoyAds | It is an Ad plug-in bundled with App, which can steal user's private information, such as phone number and email address. |
| Android.Riskware.SmsReg | App can run in background and connect to internet. It can send out paid SMS, exact cost may be incurred in user's account. |
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