- 08.20.12
- fast feed
Android Malware Infects 500,000 Users
A new piece of malware, called SMSZombie, has infected more than 500,000 Chinese Android owners. The malware steals money via text message in order to replenish hackers’ online gaming accounts.
Over 500,000 Android users have accidentally downloaded a piece of malware called SMSZombie, which is nearly impossible to uninstall and steals money from users via fraudulent SMS payments. SMSZombie, which infected users via the third-party Chinese GFan app market, hid within a series of otherwise-innocuous wallpaper apps.
Researchers at security firm TrustGo who investigated the malware found out that it stole low amounts of money from victims on a large scale in order to replenish unknown online gaming accounts. Money was stolen from users via China Mobile’s SMS Payment Service, a tool which does not exist on a large scale in the United States. Fast Company has reported previously on Android malware.
[Image: Flickr user Laihu]
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