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Porn-Clicker Android Malware Hits Google Play Hard

Posted by timothy on from the click-jacking dept.

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.

11 of 47 comments (clear)

  1. I swear it was a virus honey. by gurps_npc · · Score: 4, Funny

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

    --
    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
    1. Re:I swear it was a virus honey. by roc97007 · · Score: 2

      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.

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
    2. Re:I swear it was a virus honey. by sudon't · · Score: 4, Interesting

      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!

      --
      -- sudon't

      Air-ride Equipped

    3. Re:I swear it was a virus honey. by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2

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

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      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    4. Re:I swear it was a virus honey. by EdwardFurlong · · Score: 2

      AdNauseam?

  2. Not going to read the article by belthize · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

  3. Re:Rule 34 malware. by StikyPad · · Score: 2

    None that you can think of, anyway. :)

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    https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
  4. Appropriate terminology by jmcwork · · Score: 2

    Click-jacking. Ha!

  5. PornClicker Android Malware POUNDS GooglePlay Hard by williamyf · · Score: 4, Funny

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

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    *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
  6. Support those websites by penguinoid · · Score: 2

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

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    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  7. Plausible deniability by phorm · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.