On December 29, 2010, Lookout, a San Francisco based smartphone security firm, issued an alert for Android-based smartphone users being affected by a sophisticated trojan called Geinimi.
According to Lookout, Geinimi is the most sophisticated malware targeted at Android devices to date with “botnet-like capabilities.” It can take control of users’ devices and transmit sensitive information to a remote server. The Trojan made its first appearance in China and would gradually spread into other regions.
The biggest problem is that Geinimi comes with legitimate apps, mainly games. After you install the infected app on your Android smartphone, it would ask you to provide lots of personal info. Digital Trends reports:
So far Gemini has been observed grafted onto legitimate apps — primarily games — that are downloaded to Android smartphones by unknowing patrons of third-party Android app stores. The infected apps reportedly then request an abnormal level of access to devices and then, boom, it’s a zombie-phone.
After the trojan takes control of a particular device it would send out user’s location, transmit the unique device ID number, download apps and then force the user to install them. It can also deliver several installed apps to a remote server.
So far, the malware has been spotted in China and it is believed that the main goal of this malware is to build up a “malicious ad network.”
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