Google Play Store Removes 8 Fake Cryptocurrency Mining Apps for Tricking Users: Trend Micro

 Google Play Store Removes 8 Fake Cryptocurrency Mining Apps for Tricking Users: Trend Micro

IT security firm Trend Micro says that when it searched cryptocurrency keywords like ‘cloud mining’ on Google Play it found many concerning apps of the same type.

Photo Credit: Trend Micro

Trend Micro urges users to check app reviews and read terms of use before using apps

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fake app Crypto Holic – Bitcoin Cloud Mining is priced at $12.99
• Bogus mining activity was carried out via a local mining simulation modul
• These cryptocurrency apps were flooded with ads of different kinds

Cryptocurrency is a trending topic, and now, Google Play has removed eight deceptive cryptocurrency apps after they were discovered to be fake and tricking users to watch advertisements, as per security firm Trend Micro. These apps masqueraded as cryptocurrency cloud mining apps where users can earn cryptocurrency by investing money into a cloud-mining operation. Trend Micro reports that these eight malicious apps tricked victims into watching ads, paying for subscription services that have an average monthly fee of $15 (roughly Rs. 1,100) and paying for increased mining capabilities without getting anything in return.

Trend Micro reports that the eight fake cryptocurrency apps were: BitFunds – Crypto Cloud Mining, Bitcoin Miner – Cloud Mining, Bitcoin (BTC) – Pool Mining Cloud Wallet, Crypto Holic – Bitcoin Cloud Mining, Daily Bitcoin Rewards – Cloud Based Mining System, Bitcoin 2021, MineBit Pro - Crypto Cloud Mining & btc miner, and Ethereum (ETH) - Pool Mining Cloud. The firm says that two of these malicious apps were even paid; meaning users had to purchase them on installation. This strategy was used to gain trust of the user. Trend Micro says Crypto Holic – Bitcoin Cloud Mining costed $12.99 (roughly Rs. 960) to download, while Daily Bitcoin Rewards – Cloud Based Mining System costed $5.99 (roughly Rs. 450).

The firm says that these fake apps had no cryptocurrency-mining behaviour. They are said to have carried out bogus mining activity via a local mining simulation module that included a counter and some random functions. These apps lured users to pay for increased cryptocurrency-mining capabilities via the apps' in-app billing systems that range from $14.99 (roughly Rs. 1,111) to as high as $189.99 (roughly Rs. 14,000), as per Trend Micro.