Porn-Clicker Android Malware Hits Google Play Hard

An anonymous reader writes: In a little over seven months, cybercriminals using click-jacking mobile malware to earn affiliate income have managed to push over 340 instances of the malware into Google Play. The "Porn Clicker," as ESET researchers have dubbed the threat, does not steal user information or download additional malware – it simply clicks on ads generated by the attackers' servers and shown on pornographic websites. The user is none the wiser, as the malicious app does so covertly.

Comments

I swear it was a virus honey.

[gurps_npc]

Me? I would never click on those ads. Must be a virus.

Re:I swear it was a virus honey.

[roc97007]

I know at least two people who would respond to TFA with "Wow. Bonus."

Those are the machines I refuse to work on anymore. Those guys will click on anything, like Chip the Sales Associate.

Re:I swear it was a virus honey.

[sudon't]

My first thought was, "Hey, maybe here's a way to support web sites without looking at ads!" Whip up a plug-in that blocks ads on the page, but sends some clicks up the pipe at the same time. Voila! Everyone is happy, and the current internet model is saved!

Re:I swear it was a virus honey.

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

So... you're saying that this isn't malicious at all, it's a public service?

Re:I swear it was a virus honey.

[EdwardFurlong]

AdNauseam?

Re:I swear it was a virus honey.

[Anonymous Coward]

This would do three things: First, it would make advertisers think that their crap works...

It won't, they already have code to identify and discard click-bots, more below.

second, it actually poisons their intrusive info gathering,

Once again, click-bot behavior is discarded before it enters the database, no poisoning here.

third, it gets ad revenue to sites.

This is how I know that ad-trolls can detect click-bots. They wrote the code to identify web sites using scripts to artificially inflate their ad revenue, even by trivial amounts. All your plugin will do is mark all the web sites you visit as potentially using click-bots, lowering their ad revenue.

Wins on all fronts.

Very much not.

Re:I swear it was a virus honey.

[stephanruby]

Seriously thought, this is the first malware I wouldn't mind downloading (except for the potential drain on my battery).

It disrupts the current model of ad click-baiting.

Re:I swear it was a virus honey.

[thunderclap]

Apparently yours and his versions of win are very different. As I don't like ads all that much, this is very much win win for me.

Not going to read the article

[belthize]

Because I don't want to destroy my image of a virus whose sole desire is to watch tons of porn while you browse more mundane sites. If that ever comes to pass my view of the universe will be mostly confirmed.

Re:Not going to read the article

[toonces33]

I am thinking of Bender from Futurama downloading robot porn.

Rule 34 malware.

[Flavianoep]

There are no exceptions to rule 34!

Re:Rule 34 malware.

[StikyPad]

None that you can think of, anyway. :)

Appropriate terminology

[jmcwork]

Click-jacking. Ha!

PornClicker Android Malware POUNDS GooglePlay Hard

[williamyf]

There, Fixed That For You. :-P ;-)

Support those websites

[penguinoid]

Aren't advertisers complaining that people using adblock are not supporting the websites they visit? They must be thrilled at this eager ad-clicker.

Re:Support those websites

[gstoddart]

Well, they're paying out affiliate money with no return ... likely not so much.

Re:uBlock? Is it any good?

[penguinoid]

Yes, but I have a script keep track of all the websites I visit and use a modified version of this virus to click on every ad on every website I visit, not just once but hundreds of times. Because I like to support the websites.

I have a level 73 herbal viagramage!

[Thud457]

Porn Clicker?

It that the new hot clicker game?
3...
2...
1...
NOW it is.

Plausible deniability

[phorm]

I remember reading that some guy had gotten out of CP charges based on some malware that was on his phone. It wasn't provable that he was the one that had actually done the downloading, and his computer was riddled with Malware.

I've personally seen infected user computers which were downloading or visiting sites like crazy in the background without the users' knowledge. The only thing they knew was that the computer was "being slow" so I was called for service.

Origin.

[antdude]

Yes, but hard to use at first to tweak rules.

What's the problem, advertisers?

[allo]

When people block ads, you cry how should websites get their money. When people click a lot of ads with this app, you're crying, too. Please decide, if you want the clicks or not.