Millions of Minecraft Lovers Fall Prey to Fake Related Apps on Google Play
The vast community of Minecraft fans is the latest target on Google Play as hackers are bombarding game players with skins, wallpapers, and other custom sets designed to add spice to their gaming experience. Those sets comprise currently abound on the official Google Play store in the form of numerous Minecraft-tailored apps aimed to bring in hundreds of dollars from each Minecraft enthusiast every month.
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A New Breed of Malware
All the fake Minecraft-related apps fall into a novel malware category which has recently sprung into action. Fleeceware apps offer prospective users a short test period which usually consists of a couple of days. Failure to cancel the trial on time results in extortionate monthly subscription costs that usually soar well above the $100 mark. The most vulnerable targets are those who rarely pay attention to the fine print data of their apps. So far, security researchers have spotted and reported as many as seven suspicious Minecraft-bound apps on GooglePlay.
Spotting Fleeceware Apps
Separating the sheep from the goats can be a daunting task, especially when Android users have 2.7 million apps to choose from. However, that is not the case with fleeceware. For the most part, the ratings given to such apps usually represent the opposite ends of the spectrum. What is more, the poor reviews vastly outnumber the 5-star ones. Should you come across an unfamiliar app containing polarized reviews with no middle ground whatsoever, that app may not provide the value it pretends to.
Children Beware
Children appear to be most susceptible to fleeceware attacks as they usually skip on such details as other user reviews, billing details, and Web research. It is the huge popularity of the Minecraft game among kids that poses the most significant challenges in the fight against fleeceware apps. Nevertheless, you can still avoid any damage if you end your subscription plan before the trial has expired and uninstall the app from your Android device.