'Mobile apps Group' Adware
The 'Mobile apps Group' developer account on Google Play has been associated with spreading intrusive adware applications on the official Google Play store. In total, it is estimated that over 1 million downloads have been accumulated by the applications connected to the account. Infosec researchers are warning users about four such apps that at the time of research were available on the store - 'Bluetooth Auto Connect,' 'Mobile transfer: smart switch,' 'Driver: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB' and 'Bluetooth App Sender.'
Once installed on the user's Android device, the adware applications will stay dormant for a period of 72 hours to avoid raising any suspicions. After that period, the applications will activate and begin running intrusive advertising campaigns. Applications belonging to the 'Mobile apps Group' are capable of displaying unwanted advertisements on the device in a new browser tab or taking users to promoted websites via forced redirects.
The advertisements associated with adware should not be trusted. They could easily be used as a way to promote untrustworthy destinations, phishing tactics, fake giveaways, shady adult websites, etc. Users also could be shown advertisements for additional PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) presented as security tools or other seemingly useful software products. It should be noted that the 'Mobile apps Group' adware applications also may proceed to open websites, even when the device is locked and without requiring any input from the user. This unwanted behavior typically occurs every two hours, when new browser tabs will be opened.
