What users can do
To avoid falling victim to unwanted
purchases or lose pre-paid credit, Android users in particular should check
their phones to see if they have any of the apps flagged as suspicious
installed. If so, they should uninstall them immediately and review any new
mobile airtime charges for possible fraud.
Users wishing to protect themselves
are advised that third-party app stores often apply less scrutiny for adverse
code and odd behavior in listed applications, but even apps from official
sources like Google Play can be compromised.
Before any installation,
users should check the app’s reviews, developer details, and list of requested
permissions, making sure that they all relate to the app’s stated purpose.
Head of Secure-D, Geoffrey Cleaves, commented: “Malware can be responsible for creating millions of dollars of fraudulent revenue. It impacts consumers’ pockets and mobile service experience by eating up their data, incurring unwanted charges, and affecting the performance of their phones. The mobile advertising fraud market is worth more than $40bn annually. Dressing up to appear as legitimate and often popular applications, undetected malware damages the industry’s reputation, leaving mobile operators and their customers exposed, picking up the tab.”
Secure-D has assisted 31 mobile operators
across 20 countries, covering nearly 700 million mobile users. In 2019, the
platform blocked $2.1 billion worth of fraudulent transactions, improving the
end-user experience and building customer loyalty on behalf of operators around
the world. The platform’s clearing process ensures no customer is charged
until the validity of each transaction can be verified. Upon the platform’s
deployment user complains drop significantly, with the new measures saving customers
tens of millions of dollars.
Recently Secure-D found
pre-installed malware on a number of handsets manufactured by leading Chinese
phone manufacturer, Transsion. The model in question was the Tecno W20, a
low-cost handset typically sold in South Africa and Asia. The investigation has
received widespread coverage (see Chinese
phones with built-in malware sold in Africa), with the issue affecting South
Africa among other countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and
Ghana.
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