Google Play security exposed by malware hidden in fake driving games

Lukas Stefanko, a malware researcher, has posted a message on Twitter alerting Google Play users about a number of driving game apps that are actually malware disguised as simulators. Games listed as malware include Luxury Car Parking, Extreme Car Driving, and Truck Cargo Simulator. All 13 games (see image at the end of the article) come from the same developer: Luiz O Pinto.

The total amount of installations tops 560,000, which means there are a lot of Google Play users out there with infected devices. Apparently, the malware downloaded an APK file that was then installed onto a user’s device. The malware’s purpose is yet to be ascertained, but it is believed to be persistent and those affected should certainly take steps to remove all traces of the downloaded malware files.

The driving game apps themselves were useless upon download and simply crashed when users tried to access them. Once the malware APK had been accessed and installed, the game icon was deleted, leaving users with infected devices. Some media outlets have tried to contact Luiz O Pinto, but no explanation for the malware or its purpose has yet been offered.

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