[Heads up] Fake apps in the Windows Phone Store

Do-more

According to this post in the Avast blog, there is a growing problem with fake apps in the Windows Phone Store.

Almost exactly two months ago, we reported on some fake apps found in the Windows Phone Store. Unfortunately, the news hasn’t stopped there – instead, it seems that this third-party app store is becoming an increasingly popular platform for the bad guys.

Today, we‘ve uncovered quite a large set of fake apps which includes scams imitating legitimate popular apps such as Facebook Messenger, CNN, BBC, and WhatsApp.

There are two perpetrators behind these fake apps: Ngetich Walter and Cheruiyot Dennis. Between the two of them, they have 58 different apps available in the Windows Phone Store, all of which are fake.

The majority of the apps have certain things in common — they collect basic data about users and display various advertisements that are mostly driven by a user’s location. A portion of the apps try to lead users to pages that force them to submit a request to purchase something.

evolutionqy7

Its not just windows phone. Its also Windows PC apps that are being fake and Microsoft is seem to be doing sweet **** all about it. I wrote to MS Support on twitter before and they said they would have a look at them. Id say sweet f all was done...

jimmynokia

Think who wrote that needs to understand the difference between hackers and spammers

theothernt

jimmynokia wrote: »

Think who wrote that needs to understand the difference between hackers and spammers

Very true, the worst they can do is steal your contacts, etc - not "hack" your PC or phone... as all apps run in a protected sandbox.

jimmynokia

theothernt wrote: »

Very true, the worst they can do is steal your contacts, etc - not "hack" your PC or phone... as all apps run in a protected sandbox.

Well that's right and you would think someone like the author would know apps are sandboxed.. pffft.