Jump Viking a ‘malware’ disguised as a game, attacking Android – CNET in Spanish

Despite efforts by Google to shield Android, the mobile operating system most widely used worldwide still suffering from the malware .

On Monday, the research team security Check Point published a report about “Viking Horde”, a malware that is attacking Android devices through various applications that are available in the Play Store.

The ‘malware’ disguised as a video game is still available in the Play Store

screenshot Oscar Gutierrez / CNET

Check Point reported last May 5 to Google at least five different infected applications Viking Horde, one of these, Viking Jump, is the most important being a mobile game to tap the charts of some countries and has been downloaded up to 100,000 times threat.

Viking Jump is still on the Play Store, although Check Point already notified Google.

While Viking Horde affects both devices root as without this change, more dangers for users with root . once an app installed with malware, infected device joins a botnet, or network controlled by the attacker, without the owner knowing devices. The bots or infected devices, are used by the hacker clicks for advertising and generate income for the attacker.

Check Point says bots are used for different tasks –from click advertising, to DDoS attacks to disable Web– sites, depending on the capabilities and technical specifications of those infected.

In the case of devices with root Viking Horde installs them a code that can be executed remotely by the hacker, compromising security information stored on the device. Viking Horde also takes advantage of the privileges of root (or administrator) to complicate their fight to render impossible the task of eliminating the malware .

Other not as popular applications like Viking Jump, but also infected with malware, are Wi-Fi Plus, Memory Booster, Parrot Copter Simple and 2048. most of these apps has reviews and negative ratings in the app store, and researchers say this could be because users have encountered a strange behavior of the software.

A Google spokesman did not respond to a request for comment from ZDnet (sister site CNET and CNET in Spanish).