Google Play apps are perfectly fine, no malware here

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Now apps found on Google Play can infect your computer. Brilliant strategy Google.



  • http://www.johncblandii.com John C. Bland II

    The flaw in this is three fold: 1) He assumes high profile devices get plugged into computers to transfer music, etc. Android has been disconnected for years and rarely do you do this. 2) You have to enable USB access, isn’t on by default (just charging). 3) They call it popular based on 23 reviews. HA!

    So, yes, it is something Google should address but I don’t see this as a “OMG” issue seeing as the author didn’t cover all angles.

    • http://www.johncblandii.com John C. Bland II

      Make that four fold: 4) You can’t find the app: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=superclean&c=apps. The direct url doesn’t even load: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=smart.apps.superclean&hl=ru&noredirect=1.

      Consider the source. ;-)

      • http://twitter.com/plaztiksoundz Rodrigo Freitas

        So “the source”, a company whose specialty is finding malware, and has been on the forefront of finding mobile related ones, is unreliable.

        They have screenshots of the app in the store. They have screenshots of the code that the app runs. They explain what the code does. And yet, your conclusion is that “If it’s not there now, it never existed!” or “I can’t see it, it’s a lie.”?

        Yeah, Kaspersky just photoshoped some images, wrote some imaginary code, and posted about it. It’s a hoax.

        If you want to debunk it, at least know what you’re talking about, instead of using dumb arguments and the word “fold” a lot. You may think it makes you sound intelligent, but it doesn’t. You just sound like a (dare i say it) fanboy…

        • http://www.johncblandii.com John C. Bland II

          I’m not saying they are unreliable but merely stating you have to consider the motivation. Do they have something to gain? You know…maybe app sales? https://play.google.com/store/search?q=kasperky

          I didn’t say it never existed. Please read, I choose my words carefully. They trumped it up like an “OMG” issue but the app doesn’t even exist in the store nnow.

          You’re taking it too far, being facetious, and trying hard to fight me here. Just step back and look at it.

          lmbo @ “fold” and fanboy. Keep trying. ;-)

          • http://twitter.com/plaztiksoundz Rodrigo Freitas

            It’s not a question of being combative. It’s just logic. And not being blind by your preferences or tastes. Your preference of OS shouldn’t make you blindly defend something that at it’s core is completely wrong, and that should not happen!

            Kaspersky is also the company who unveiled exploits in iOS regarding Contacts access and Facetime calls, and yet they don’t sell antivirus solutions in the iTunes store. So that argument that they have something to gain with it is invalid.

            The fact here is that they found malware that NOT ONLY affects your phone, but also “jumps” to your PC and affects it also. Which is being sold, in the official Google Play Store. Not only the amount of access it gains is unprecedented, it also affects more than one device you own. So yes, it IS an OMG moment. Because not every user is educated to the subject, not every Android user reads blogs, not every Android user is aware of it’s existence!

          • http://www.johncblandii.com John C. Bland II

            Yes, I prefer Android over iOS but that doesn’t make me blind at all because I use my ‘mini’ daily. Hate for the sake of hate just isn’t in me.

            Read my first comment: ‘So, yes, it is something Google should address but I don’t see this as a “OMG” issue seeing as the author didn’t cover all angles.’

            I’m not blind. It should be addressed. Guess what? It was addressed before the ink could dry so where is the fire?

            If the app still existed, had massive, and could happen automatically (not with users changing settings on their PC and phone), then it would be OMG but right now it is not.

          • http://www.johncblandii.com John C. Bland II

            Jerry perfectly explains my “consider the source” point: http://www.androidcentral.com/editorial-fragmentation-malware-and-clicks.

          • http://twitter.com/DumaStudetto Duma Studetto

            “So yes, it IS an OMG moment. Because not every user is educated to the subject, not every Android user reads blogs, not every Android user is aware of it’s existence!”

            You are right. The vast majority of Android users don’t care about this security stuff. Just as iOS users don’t care either. Jim probably enjoys earning some cheap brownie points with Apple by preaching to the choir with this kind of nonsense every couple of weeks. There’s never any real insight, but I imagine it does make iPhone users feel warm and fuzzy – and that I’m guessing would be the ultimate goal.

    • Scruff0

      It’s live malware that targets your phone and can infect your computer. How is that NOT an OMG moment?

      Isn’t USB one of the big ‘Android rulez, IOS sucks’ features?

      Even if you take the whole ‘if you have the misfortune of plugging in your phone to your computer’ part, it’s still malware. On a supposedly trusted store.

      • http://www.johncblandii.com John C. Bland II

        1) The app doesn’t even exist on the store so the article should be questioned. 2) No, being disconnected is the “Android rulez, IOS sucks” feature. USB was an iOS requirement, not Android. Use Google Music or any other service and just cloud sync it.

        True on it still being malware but find the app for me on the “assumed untrustworthy store.”

        • Scruff0

          Nope on the USB. Big screaming was heard about the iPod not having a standard USB port.

          • http://www.johncblandii.com John C. Bland II

            lol. Seriously? The big complaint on iOS was having to plug into a computer to sync. Android outgrew that very early on.

        • http://twitter.com/plaztiksoundz Rodrigo Freitas

          “The Google Play music player is currently available in select territories.”

          Yes, i guess i don’t have to connect through USB, i’ll just use magic, rainbows, and unicorns! I’ll see if i can find them in the cloud so they can provide some assistance…

          Or did i just forget that to some people, The World is The United States of America? Ignorant me…

          • http://www.johncblandii.com John C. Bland II

            “Use Google Music or any other service and just cloud sync it.”