Beware malware-infected 'Flappy Bird' clones

Gamers looking for the now-defunct popular mobile game "Flappy Bird" should think twice before installing some clone games being offered for download in unofficial app markets - they could be malware.

 

Security vendor Sophos said one of its researchers discovered infected versions of the game in so-called alternative Android app markets.

 

"(The infected version) looks just like the real thing on the surface, with the same name and icon. But if we dig into the permissions of the original app, and compare them to the imposter, you'll quickly see what's changed," Sophos' Paul Ducklin said in a blog post.

 

Ducklin said those behind the infected versions of the game could be cashing in on the popularity of "Flappy Bird" even after its developer pulled it out.

 

Many gamers could be curious about the fuss created by the game, he noted.

 

Citing findings by Sophos researcher Andras Mendik, Ducklin said one malware identified as Andr/VietSms-T seeks permission to have "the right to send SMSes for you."

 

He added the fake game even pretends to be a trial version that has expired, and asks the user to send an SMS to a premium rate SMS account to reactivate it.

 

The real game was free before it was pulled out, Ducklin said.

 

That's a premium-rate SMS account, and you do get a warning - most users, we assume, will be rightly suspicious by now:

 

"Don't get sucked into this sort of trick, even if you missed out on Flappy Bird when it was alive and you are determined to find out what the fuss was about," Ducklin said.

 

He also reminded users to be wary of apps from alternative markets.

 

"If you are in doubt, leave your device in its default setting so it doesn't allow you to install apps from unknown sources," he added. — TJD, GMA News