In a report by Trend Micro, it has been discovered that cybercriminals capitalize on the hype over popular apps such as Candy Crush, and Temple Run. Cybercriminals take advantage of these up and coming apps by creating fake app downloads that lead users to malicious ads.
Popcap’s newest game Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time is just one of the apps that fall victim to these exploiters.
People have been anticipating the release of the sequel to the well-received PvZ franchise which is not yet available world wide. Trend Micro has reported though, that seven other Plants vs. Zombies 2 fake downloads have been spotted in Google Play.
According to TrendLabs fraud analyst Ruby Santos, the existence of these threats is nothing new and that cybercriminals find a way to capitalize on any popular trends to lure unspuspecting users. Santos added that users should not be complacent in downloading apps even if Google is creating safety measures on their store.
Users are urged to be aware of what they download. Only download from verified first-party sources, and avoid sideloading or downloading from suspicious ‘developers’ or unauthorized parties.
For more information about the latest on mobile threat and security, you may visit Mobile Threat Information Hub.