In the latest past, Google Play Store has featured several episodes of falsified applications specifically intended to trick users into making cash. A latest CSIS Security Group discovery disclosed a deceptive app promising updates for Sasmung phones and installed by more than 10 million customers.
The application, called "Samsung updates," promised firmware updates for users of Samsung's smartphone, but after installation it went to redirect charges for downloading updates to an ad-farm.
In specific, the app provides an annual subscription to download the Samsung firmware for $34.99 in addition to advertisements. The falsified app also provided an elusive $19.99 "SIM unlock." Payment is not managed through the subscriptions to Google Play, however, but through a third site where you can enter your credit card information.
Even with some inaction, the app has been deleted by Google following scientist Aleksejs Kuprins ' request. Such counterfeit applications are hazardous not only because they can unsuccessfully steal cash by tricking the user, but also because by intercepting and gathering sensitive information they can jeopardize privacy.