190 Android apps with trojan malware were installed 9.3 million times

Trojans (besides the definition that you might be more familiar with) is an app that hides its true purpose by masquerading as a regular app. But once the app is installed it unleashes malware that infects the phone allowing a bad actor to steal personal data and even take control of the device. According to a fresh report, researchers at Dr. Web Anti-virus discovered a large malware attack on Huawei’s App Gallery app storefront that led victims to unwittingly install dangerous malware on their phones.

The 190 infected Android trojan apps were installed approximately 9.3 million times. Dr. Web says that the malware has been identified as ‘Android.Cynos.7.origin’ and is believed to be a modified version of the Cynos malware that is used to collect personal data from victims’ handsets. The researchers ended up alerting  Huawei about the trojans and Huawei deleted them from the App Gallery.

• Hurry up and hide – 2,000,000
• Cat adventures – 427,000
• Drive school simulator – 142,000

These trojan apps can collect user’s personal data and information about their device and send it to a remote server

The report adds that some of the versions of the malware have aggressive functionality. “They send premium SMS, intercept incoming SMS, download and launch extra modules, and download and install other apps.” It obviously is not good to have any of these apps installed on your phone. The version of the trojan found in Huawei’s App Gallery collects personal information about the user and his device and displays ads.

Once permission is granted, the app sends certain information to a remote server including the user’s phone number, the device location, some of the specs belonging to the user’s device, and according to the report, “Various mobile network parameters, such as the network code and mobile country code; also, GSM cell ID and international GSM location area code.”

The infected apps have already been removed from Huawei’s App Gallery app store

Dr. Web explains the problem with trojan malware apps targeting children. “At first glance, a mobile phone number leak may seem like an insignificant problem. Yet in reality, it can seriously harm users, especially given the fact that children are the games’ main target audience.”