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Fake Pokemon Go App On Google Play Infects Phones With Screenlocker (arstechnica.com)
Everytime an app gets insanely popular, vicious minds try to capitalize on the momentum -- and history suggests, Android is their most-targetted platform. So it wasn't really a big surprise when security researchers at Eset announced on Friday that at least three fake, possibly malicious Pokemon Go app have made it to Google Play, Android's marquee app store. From an Ars Technica report: Of the three, the one titled "Pokemon Go Ultimate" posed the biggest threat because it deliberately locks the screen of devices immediately after being installed. In many cases, restarting an infected phone isn't enough to unlock the screen. Infected phones can ultimately be unlocked either by removing the battery or by using the Android Device Manager. Once the screen has been unlocked and the device has restarted, the app -- which by now has the title PI Network --is removed from the device's app menu. Still, it continues to run in the background and surreptitiously clicks on ads in an attempt to generate revenue for its creators. Eset discovered two other fake Pokemon Go apps inhabiting Google Play, one named "Guide & Cheats for Pokemon Go" and the other "Install Pokemongo." Both deliver ads carrying fraudulent, scary-sounding messages that are designed to trick users into buying expensive, unnecessary services. One such message claims the device is infected with malware and prompts the user to spend money to get the malicious apps removed.
You just want to catch them ll for yourself. I bet you're a salty Mystic player!
Pokey Mongo.
Them nasty little pokemons have evolved to post app traps to the play store in order to protect themselves from capture!
Android is a security disaster.
People pretend that only those that run rooted phones and install things from untrusted sources are at risk. Once again we are shown that it doesn't matter wethet you install from the play store or not. The Android ecosystem is just full of holes.
My question is when will Google be held liable for this trainwreck? There are specific requirements that have to be met to be able to submit an app to the play store. The apps are (supposedly) verified before being accepted. Google even reserves the right to ban certain types of apps from the store or to remotely remove them from users devices (fun fact: Google Play Services allows Google to remotely administer your device. And it runs as root, because, why not?).
We can't keep letting Google get away with this. We can't keep pretending that Google isn't liable.
And better mice will beat a path to your doorstep.
SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
you don't have a filter to prevent anything with "pokemon" (or any other 'trending' keyword) from getting auto-listed. what the fuck?
Don't worry, once the novelty wears off and everyone realizes that there's absolutely no depth to the game, it'll die. Right now it's the stupid media hype (like, say, this story) that's keeping people playing.
Once players realize this is nothing like an actual Pokemon game, it'll fade into obscurity. You can't even level up your pokemon, instead you basically crush ones you've caught into more powerful variants.
It's dumb, shallow, and boring. It won't last.
Famous last words (japanese political saboteur laughing at gullible American child)...
"Hey mister, there is a hypno and a jynx inside your Free Candy van, can I?"
"C'mon dude look at all those pokemon on San Nicholas Island and Camp Pendleton! Here comes one now flying beside that F16! In that smoldering crater!"
"Do i need to buy a side of rice before you let me in to battle Ratatta and Hitmonchan in your restaurant back alley?"
"There is a dungeon pokemon calling from underneath your driveway, do you have a access door so i can get nearer?"
"Exotic Misty Pokemon Besteliaty?"
"Nurse Jenny lesbian acts"
Apple seems to do a MUCH better job of policing their app store than Google, which makes iPhones a far better bet for non-techies like my grandma (and yes she does have an iPhone). I know someone will come along and point out some obscure case of malware making it into Apple's store but for every one of those there are thousands that make it into the Android store. It's way, way lopsided.
Google needs to up their game. Badly.
It's webscale.
It's dumb, shallow, and boring. It won't last.
That's what I said about Starbucks.
Trump will fix it
Not showing up in store when I search. Looks like the system is working to me.
Silence is a state of mime.
Poll idea: How many times in 3 days has Slashdot deemed their audience curious about Pokemon Go stories.
[ ] 1
[ ] 2-5
[ ] 6-20
It's dumb, shallow, and boring. It won't last.
That's what I said about Starbucks.
So it tastes like burnt mud too?
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
Trump will fix it
People have been saying this ia s crime, I'm certain . I'll make sure that Anonymous Cowards will be modded so high that theiy'll get tired of being so insightful. I'll build a Slashdot with the Cowards at the top, and make the moderators pay for it. Oh yeah, I can tell you that.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
Ironically, as I watch a non rooted i device struggle to get on PGo (he tried for like 5 hours) while myself and 5 other Android users have fun catching Pokemon.
You guys enjoy being gouged and censored unnecessarily.
My entire non techie extended family are intelligent enough to question and snood this really shady non Nintendo Pokemon Go shit that's clearly not legit while you guys desperately try to justify being gouged with a 30% tax.
Ford, Toyota, Mercedes General Motors et al should cease, too, now that "for the good of everyone" has suddenly become a not-obviously-bullshit reason.