Over 60% of Android Malware Hides In Fake Versions of Popular Apps

An anonymous reader writes "Like any popular platform, Android has malware. Google's mobile operating system is relatively new, however, so the problem is still taking form. In fact, it turns out that the larger majority of threats on Android come from a single malware family: Android.FakeInstaller, also known as OpFake, which generates revenue by silently sending expensive text messages in the background. McAfee says that the malware family makes up more than 60 percent of Android samples the company processes."

Comments

Re:How does an expensive SMS make them money?

[icebike]

The malware sets the phone to use third party SMS gateways
Those gateways deliver the SMS message to the recipient's carrier, and bills that carrier for the service. You might be none the wiser, but your carrier is paying for that incoming message via bilateral agreements or "Hubbing".