Google kills 300 fake apps used for DDoS attacks

Google has removed hundreds of apps from the Play store after they were found to hijack devices for the use of the WireX botnet.

The apps appeared to be normal common apps, providing abilities such as media playback and system resource and storage management. In reality, they would use the device to take part in DDoS attacks against targets online.

Akamai has been credited with discovering the WireX botnet after a client was targeted. It then went on to cooperate with security staff from competitors to try to solve the problem. During this cooperate effort, hundreds of apps available through the Play store were found to be bogus and malicious.

Google removed over 300 apps from the Play store so far and they are being removed from affected devices too. An estimated 70,000 devices in over 100 countries have been compromised already.

Some affected devices have also been hit by ransomware attacks.

Read More: Akamai

Written by: James Delahunty @ 30 Aug 2017 7:59

hearme0

Props to Google for doing the right thing!

This should have been squared away long ago.......sadly I must say...just like Apple's App Store!

Not an Apple superfan but...they do generally get their shit right the first time with serious backing of common sense.

Android just ditches all common sense and wants money so this at least a step in the right direction...........from a company that proactively mines for your personally identifiable info day in/day out.

30.8.2017 11:46 #1

KillerBug

Yeah, the whole reason these are so effective is that google does not provide a way to turn off internet for apps that don't need it...because that would decrease add revenue.

I still prefer the google way...I'd rather have the freedom of the android market model than the Apple one, even if it means I have to be careful and use a root app to turn off unnecessary permissions. It sure would be nice if google didn't make us root for such basic things, or at least offered a firewall. Rooting can be a pain on some devices, way out of the reach of the average user...plus it voids the hardware warranty even if you never overclock. Pretty sad when a $80 windows 10 tablet has one up on the most expensive Android phones.

30.8.2017 23:32 #2

Bozobub

Originally posted by hearme0: Props to Google for doing the right thing!

This should have been squared away long ago.......sadly I must say...just like Apple's App Store!

Not an Apple superfan but...they do generally get their shit right the first time with serious backing of common sense.

Android just ditches all common sense and wants money so this at least a step in the right direction...........from a company that proactively mines for your personally identifiable info day in/day out.

Orly? I'll just leave this here.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34338362

31.8.2017 21:17 #3

treyjazz

Originally posted by KillerBug: Yeah, the whole reason these are so effective is that google does not provide a way to turn off internet for apps that don't need it...because that would decrease add revenue.

I still prefer the google way...I'd rather have the freedom of the android market model than the Apple one, even if it means I have to be careful and use a root app to turn off unnecessary permissions. It sure would be nice if google didn't make us root for such basic things, or at least offered a firewall. Rooting can be a pain on some devices, way out of the reach of the average user...plus it voids the hardware warranty even if you never overclock. Pretty sad when a $80 windows 10 tablet has one up on the most expensive Android phones. Part of the reason is that the Play Store is much more open than the App Store. Anyone on any OS can develop for Android for $15 but for iDevices the developer program requires an iMac and is much more locked down. Also, by design, Android is an open platform whereas iDevices are locked down and scrutinized over needed permissions from Apple. It is a case of freedom vs security.

1.9.2017 09:41 #4

cart0181

Originally posted by treyjazz: It is a case of freedom vs security. I'm not a developer, but I don't see it that way. Is it possible to develop for the App Store? Yes. Is it easy to write it for illicit purposes? No. It seems they have struck a good balance don't you think? "Common sense" as another poster put it.

3.9.2017 00:49 #5

2LU

It'd be more helpful if people can see a list of those apps.
Any information on the existence of such list,..anyone?

6.9.2017 21:15 #6

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