More Malware-Infected Apps Found In Android Market

Trailrunner7 writes "For the third time in the last few months, Google has had to remove a slew of malware-infected apps from the Android Market and suspend some publishers. Ten Android apps in the Official Android Market are known to be infected, but many more could be victims of the Plankton Trojan. Researcher Xuxian Jiang claims that early variants of the Trojan have evaded detection for as long as two months."

Re:How about...

[Sylak]

They aren't listed in TFA either

What the

[vajorie]

Why do you not link to the original [ncsu.edu] article?!

15 Seconds Quality Time with Google...

[idontgno]

turns up Sophos' analysis [sophos.com] of this "Plankton" malware.

The sample of the EULA associated with the malware app (yes, malware EULAs) lists "Angry Bird Cheater" by name, so there's one of the candidates. Also, quoting the article:

The code suggests that it is a platform, but it does not disclose its purpose. Descriptions of the apps pulled from the Android Market contain the text:

This application is brought to you free sponsored by Choopcheec Platform. It adds a search shortcut on the home screen or application screen.

So, "Choopcheec" seems to be a common codeword for the apps. Whatever that is.