The apps were said to simulate user interactions to increase advertising revenue without user actions
The apps included RTO Vehicle Information, EMI Calculator and Loan Planner, My Train Info - IRCTC and PNR and more
Gujarat-based AppAspect is the developer behind the offending apps
San Francisco-based Wandera, a mobile security company, released a list of 17 apps for Apple’s iOS (October 24) which were infected with a clicker trojan malware. The apps were said to communicate with a known command and control (C&C) server to simulate user interactions to increase advertising revenue.
In the report, it claimed that all 17 apps were published from different countries and were being developed by Gujarat-based AppAspect Technologies. AppAspect did not respond to Inc42 queries about the ban till the time of publishing.
According to various media reports, these apps are now removed from the App Store, and the users will no longer be able to download from the App Store.
If installed previously, the users need to uninstall them immediately, and the 17 apps include RTO Vehicle Information, EMI Calculator and Loan Planner, File Manager – Documents, Smart GPS Speedometer, CrickOne – Live Cricket Scores, Daily Fitness – Yoga Poses, FM Radio – Internet Radio, My Train Info – IRCTC and PNR, Around Me Place Finder, Easy Contacts Backup Manager, Ramadan Times 2019, Restaurant Finder – Find Food, BMI Calculator – BMR Calc, Dual Accounts, Video Editor – Mute Video, Islamic World – Qibla and Smart Video Compressor, the report added.
According to a recent post published by Inc42, Apple devices such as iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads have been known for its vulnerability to hacks in recent times, despite the popular notion of these devices being safe from malware or viruses.
As Apple has a lower market share on a global scale in computers and smartphones, it doesn’t become the target of mass attacks all that often. Even so, there is no platform in the world that is 100% secure and the latest research from Checkpoint Software shows that contacts saved on iPhones are vulnerable to hacking attacks and could infect iPhones with malware.
Earlier this year, Apple had announced that it would be rolling out an update to mobile operating system iOS to restrict apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and other communication apps from making voice calls over the internet in the background.
In May, WhatsApp fixed a massive data vulnerability that left 1.5 Bn users at risk from malicious spyware. The data vulnerability which could have led to breaches and unauthorised malware installation has seemingly been present on WhatsApp for a number of years. The company reported having 400 Mn users in India in August.
