Filtered by: Scitech
SciTech

Malware found in Amazon app store


Not even Amazon's App Store is immune from malware, as a security vendor has found rogue apps targeting the Kindle Fire tablets.
 
Kaspersky Labs said one such app, dubbed "Internet Accelerator Speed Up," came with the AirPush ad framework that would potentially make it adware.
 
"It should come as no surprise that there are malicious apps in the Amazon App Store. Amazon.com is incredibly popular and it's a very trivial step to also upload an app into their store," it said in a blog post.
 
When the app is run, it will tell the user his or her connection has been optimized by 20 to 45 percent.
 
But it will then start showing some other messages, Kaspersky said.
 
Kaspersky also said the developer behind this app also uploaded other apps to the Amazon App Store, such as "Shake Battery Charger."
 
These apps would then display ads on a Kindle Fire tablet, it said.
 
An investigation showed the apps were signed by one Valkov Venelin.
 
Kaspersky said its products now detect these malware as HEUR:Hoax.AndroidOS.FakeBapp.a, and has contacted Amazon.com about this.
 
"The apps were previously available in Google Play as well, but had been removed at an earlier time," it noted. — TJD, GMA News
Tags: amazon, malware
More Videos