Recently, Google had to take action to remove five fake Signal and three fake Telegram applications from the official Play Store. This is the result of a report from security researchers who found malicious versions of these apps hosted on the store.
The reports surfaced in the first week of January. Researchers at the cybersecurity firm Zscaler found five fake Signal applications and three Telegram applications—all imitation software for their legitimate versions. Upon further examination and according to their findings, the researchers stated that these apps are malicious in nature. They were able to extract various pieces of software code from these applications that were capable of stealing user data and even accessing device information.
Google took swift action in removing these apps from the store. The company released a statement to the press saying that it is taking the necessary steps to keep the Play Store safe from malicious actors as well as providing its users with secure apps.
The statement further read, “When a potentially harmful application is identified, we remove it from the Play Store as soon as possible and notify users who may have installed it.”
As the evidence suggests, these malicious applications sought to take advantage of users who have an interest in either Signal or Telegram. By tricking users into downloading these fake apps, the hackers were able to collect data from unsuspecting victims.
This is not the first time Google has had to remove malicious apps from the Play Store. Earlier in December, Google removed a dozen apps designed to display fake invoices and telephone numbers in order to collect user information.
It’s also worth noting that even legitimate apps don’t always stay safe from malicious actors. For example, in December, Zscaler researchers also identified a malware-infested version of the popular Russian messaging app Telegram.
So far, Google has acted swiftly to remove these fake Signal and Telegram apps from its store. Google also provided a tip to its users when it came to identifying fraudulent applications.
The company reminded users that they should be wary of applications that have strange names or are not hosted by the official creators. It also urged users to pay attention to user reviews, which could alert them to the possibility that an app may not be legitimate.
Overall, it’s important to note that Google pays attention to the safety of its users and the applications hosted on its Play Store. By removing malicious applications such as the ones discovered this month, the company continues to ensure its users are safe.
