"Bill Shocker" Malware Controls 620,000 Android Phones In China

Orome1 writes "A new discovered malware is potentially one of the most costly viruses yet discovered. Uncovered by NQ Mobile, the 'Bill Shocker' (a.expense.Extension.a) virus has already impacted 620,000 users in China and poses a threat to unprotected Android devices worldwide. Bill Shocker downloads in the background, without arousing the mobile device owner's suspicion. The infection can then take remote control of the device, including the contact list, Internet connections and dialing and texting functions. Once the malware has turned the phone into a "zombie," the infection uses the device to send text message to the profit of advertisers. In many cases, the threat will overrun the user's bundling quota, which subjects the user to additional charges."

Comments

All worried until...

[Kagato]

Upon further reading the infection vector is infected pirated Android apps sold/distributed in black market Android marketplaces. Cry me a river folks.

Not true

[Joce640k]

"Bill Shocker downloads in the background"

Not really true. You have to install an infected app to get it started.

Trojans? In my Chinese pirate app store?

[0xdeadbeef]

It's more likely than you think!

the infection uses the device to send text message to the profit of advertisers

So it's just like this article, then?