Hong Kong Google Play Store's Apps Security Risk Report (September 2015)
Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team (HKCERT) Coordination Centre cooperates with the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team of China (CNCERT) for detecting malicious and suspicious behaviors of Apps from the Google Play Store, in order to study the security risk of apps in the Google Play Store in Hong Kong area. CNCERT provides us analyzed result, and we collate the detection result and publish security alerts to the public.
In the report of September, we have downloaded 200 apps from Play Store, where 5 apps have been identified as high risk. None of them were removed from Play Store (on or before 29-Sep). The detail of report is shown as follow.
Target scope
- Top 50 Free Applications in Hong Kong area
- Top 50 New Free Applications in Hong Kong area
- Top 50 Free Games in Hong Kong area
- Top 50 New Free Games in Hong Kong area
Scanned Apps
- Successful downloaded and scanned: 200 apps
- Unable to download via the system: 0 apps
- Downloaded date: 5-September 2015
- List of the downloaded apps: "Appendix 1" [download]
Analysis Overview
In this analysis, 200 apps were scanned for bad behaviors. Based on the level of security threat, the apps were divided into 2 categories: apps with malicious and apps with suspicious behaviors. Malicious behavior refers to apps having malicious purpose explicitly, which could cause direct harm to systems and users' interests. Suspicious behavior refers to apps having behavior, which could cause direct harm to systems and users' interests, but no malicious behavior can be explicitly identified.
1. Scanning Result
Among the 200 scanned apps, 5 apps were identified as security high risk. These 5 Apps were identified with the following high risk behavior signatures AdWare.AndroidOS.AdDisplay, Android.Locker.EJf4d3, Android.Adware.Adware.Uapush.1.origin, Android.Smsreg.CS, Trojan.Android.Joye.dqenuc, etc.
List of security high risk apps
Application | High risk behavior signature / Ad plug-in | Malware detection ratio by VirusTotal | Status # |
1) LINE Launcher (v2.0.57) | AdWare.AndroidOS.AdDisplay | 3 / 55 [Link] | Available on play store |
2) PAC-MAN 256 - Endless Maze (v1.0.3) | Android.Locker.EJf4d3 | 1 / 56 [Link] | Available on play store |
3) 伏魔者 (v1.1.3) | Android.Adware.Adware.Uapush.1.origin | 2 / /54 [Link] | Available on play store |
4) 雲頂德州撲克 (v2.3.4.5) | Android.Smsreg.CS | 30 / 56 [Link] | Available on play store |
5) 武林至尊（全球公測） (v1.5.8) | Trojan.Android.Joye.dqenuc | 2 / 56 [Link] | Available on play store |
Remark (#): The status was checked on 26-Aug. There is no direct relation between the on-shelf status and this report.
2. High risk behavior signature and Ad plug-in
High risk behavior signature and Ad plug-in | High risk behavior |
Android.Locker.EJf4d3 | It is a high risk application, when it is running, it can steal user information, such as geo-location, phone number, etc. at the background. |
AdWare.AndroidOS.AdDisplay | This is an advertisement application. It can aggressively push ad to device's notification bar. It can modify browser's bookmark, and remove icon on the main screen. The ads will ask for money. Some ads showed in the notification bar will lure user to subscribe and pay for SMS service. Three common luring ads are 1) fake shop, 2) fake free call service, 3) system notification impersonation |
Android.Smsreg.CS | It is a high risk app. When the app is running, it can receive user's SMS and send SMS in the background. It can cause user information disclosure and pay additional charge. |
Android.Adware.Adware.Uapush.1.origin | This is advertisement software bundled with the application, which can insert advertisement in the app, download and install new app, steal user's private information , such as geo-location, phone number, etc. |
Trojan.Android.Joye.dqenuc | It is a high risk app. When the app is running, it can receive user's SMS and send SMS in the background. It can cause user information disclosure and pay additional charge. |
3. High risk app analysis
Please refer to "Appendix 2" [download]
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