'Pokemon GO' APK? Users' Phones At Risk Getting Infected With Malware
Jazz RosinA fake "Pokemon GO" installer has already made the rounds on the Internet, infecting a number of users who are otherwise restricted from getting the game on the official app stores.
The popular augmented-reality game by Nintendo and Niantic Labs is a surefire hit for Pokefans everywhere. Unfortunately for some, the game is only available in certain countries at the moment: US, Australia and New Zealand.
For the other fans of the countries not mentioned, drastic times call for drastic measures. However, this came at a huge cost.
When we said cost, we are not referring to paid content or anything of the sort. If you downloaded "Pokemon GO" anywhere else except on Google Play and Itunes, then you are currently at risk of getting Malware on your phone.
Online security company Proofpoint reported findings of a suspicious malware in a "Pokemon GO" APK, which was modified to include the remote access tool Droidjack.
The Droidjack RAT (also known as SandroRAT) can give a hacker full access to a user's infected phone, gaining valuable information which includes, but not limited to, passwords, credit card details, installing other viruses and recording videos.
"Likely due to the fact that the game had not been officially released globally at the same time," Proofpoint wrote on the blogpost about the discovery, "Many gamers wishing to access the game before it was released in their region resorted to downloading the APK from third parties."
Proofpoint went on to say that the infected "Pokemon GO" APK has been modified in such a way that the victim will not notice that the phone is already infected.
To check if your phone is compromised, check the permissions on your app. Science Alert has posted screenshots of the app permissions so it would be easier to check.
Here is how the legitimate permission should look like. However, an infected phone may have the permissions look like this.
At this point, it is better to get left behind from the US, Australia and New Zealand players than to get a phone full of malware.
Niantic Labs is working hard to launch the game around the world, and what's left for other players to do is to patiently wait for "Pokemon GO" to finally arrive in their respective countries.
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