9th April 2021, Kathmandu
Scammers have discovered a new cyber path of earning. An estimated $400 million by distributing fleeceware applications on Google Play and Apple App Store.
We all have heard it’s usually safer to download mobile apps from official stores like Google Play and Apple’s iOS App Store. Now even there is a chance malicious apps have penetrated.
Avast Security researchers have found over 204 fleeceware apps with nearly a billion downloads. For more information visit here.
What is Fleeceware?
Fleeceware is difficult to detect since the code of these offensive apps is usually not malicious. They don’t hack your data or attempt to take over your laptop.
These scams rely on Apps that perform as advertised but have a secret, exorbitant subscription fees.
Categories of Fleeceware Application
These are the App categories that are most venerable to fleeceware:
- Musical instrument app
- Palm readers
- Image editors
- Camera filters
- Fortune tellers
- Slime simulators
- QR code and PDF readers
Prevention from Fleeceware App
Avast Security researchers advised users to take certain security precautions when dealing with fleeceware applications. There are some examples:
- First never download these Apps.
- Be wary of free trials that last less than a week.
- Be cautious of viral ads.
- Research Thoroughly
- Make sure your payments are secure.
- Spread knowledge about the dangers of fleecewear to friends and family.