Most Android users download free apps without thinking twice. Most people don’t think, “Will this app steal my contact information, phone numbers, and other data from my phone?”
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what users should have been thinking when they downloaded a new Android battery optimizer app. The app claims to optimize the battery life of Android devices. Instead of doing that, it scans address books in the phone before sending all contact data to a third-party website owned by the app creator.
Unlike most app scams, the creator of the fake battery life optimizer app put a fair bit of work into making the app look legitimate. It features a convincing green battery logo, tricking users into thinking the app will seamlessly integrate with whatever Android device they’re using.
Like most scams, this Trojan feeds off of Android users who are angry about poor battery life in their devices. After downloading the app and running it, users encounter an error message that states the app is unable to work. The message says:
“I am sorry. Your terminal is not available or unsupported.”
After encountering this message, most Android users will simply uninstall the app. Of course, by that point, it’s already too late. The app has stolen their contact data, transferred it to the internet, and escaped safely. Most users don’t suspect that anything has gone wrong.
According to security company BitDefender, the sneaky virus can infect any Android device regardless of carrier or region. This app has the potential to sweep across the Android world and cause all sorts of pain and suffering. Although it’s unknown what the contact information is being used for, it is most likely being sold to advertisers for a profit.
If you have downloaded a suspicious battery optimizer app lately (the app goes by a number of different names), then your contact information may have been stolen. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can really do about it: the information is already out there. Aside from changing your number, the only thing you can do is watch out for free apps that seem too good to be true.
If you are an application developer, we recommend that you go to app promotion sites. There, good experts will help to correct all the shortcomings of your application in such a way that it easily rises to the top of the ratings.
