Before I get into the subject, let me tell you this first: It’s the biggest Adware campaign against Android users.
Checkpoint researchers revealed various Android applications were downloaded via Google Play Store; this apps used to install Adware into users’ Android phones, secretly tricking them into click ads while earning millions via Google’s AdSense. According to the latest estimate, the firm (called Kiniwini) which developed the “Judy” applications and malware has been earning a steady $300,000 per month.
The biggest ad fraud:
The Kiniwini apps were downloaded by over 36.5 million Android users, making it the biggest ad fraud ever.
“It is quite unusual to find an actual organization behind the mobile malware, as most of them are developed by purely malicious actors”
The researcher, also said the following:
“The malware opens the URLs using the user agent that imitates a PC browser in a hidden webpage and receives a redirection to another website.”
…
“Once the targeted website is launched, the malware uses the JavaScript code to locate and click on banners from the Google ads infrastructure.”
The following is a list of malware infected apps developed by Kiniwini. Suggestion: Remove this apps immediately if they are located on your device.
- Fashion Judy: Snow Queen style
- Animal Judy: Persian cat care
- Fashion Judy: Pretty rapper
- Fashion Judy: Teacher style
- Animal Judy: Dragon care
- Chef Judy: Halloween Cookies
- Fashion Judy: Wedding Party
- Animal Judy: Teddy Bear care
- Fashion Judy: Bunny Girl Style
- Fashion Judy: Frozen Princess
- Chef Judy: Triangular Kimbap
- Chef Judy: Udong Maker – Cook
- Fashion Judy: Uniform style
- Animal Judy: Rabbit care
- Fashion Judy: Vampire style
- Animal Judy: Nine-Tailed Fox
- Chef Judy: Jelly Maker – Cook
- Chef Judy: Chicken Maker
- Animal Judy: Sea otter care
- Animal Judy: Elephant care
- Judy’s Happy House
- Chef Judy: Hotdog Maker – Cook
- Chef Judy: Birthday Food Maker
- Fashion Judy: Wedding day
- Fashion Judy: Waitress style
- Chef Judy: Character Lunch
- Chef Judy: Picnic Lunch Maker
- Animal Judy: Rudolph care
- Judy’s Hospital: Pediatrics
- Fashion Judy: Country style
- Animal Judy: Feral Cat care
- Fashion Judy: Twice Style
- Fashion Judy: Myth Style
- Animal Judy: Fennec Fox care
- Animal Judy: Dog care
- Fashion Judy: Couple Style
- Animal Judy: Cat care
- Fashion Judy: Halloween style
- Fashion Judy: EXO Style
- Chef Judy: Dalgona Maker
- Chef Judy: ServiceStation Food
- Judy’s Spa Salon
We know, at least one of the apps was update on Google Play Store in April last year, this means, you know what that means…
Google has removed the above applications from it’s Play Store. Google Bouncer is not quite that efficient to keep bad applications out of it’s “store”. So you will want to be careful when it comes to downloading apps.