A recently removed app from the Google Play Store contained malware that was stealing users’ data including text messages and more.
The remote access trojan or RAT malware that is infecting Android devices is known as TeaBot and has been around since early 2021.
It is reported that this trojan was capable of stealing data such as text messages and login credentials from user devices.
We want to know your thoughts after reading this story in the comments below. What do you think of an app available on Google Play containing data stealing malware?
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The app, which has since been removed from Google Play, was titled QR Code & Barcode – Scanner and was used to scan various QR & barcodes.
While the initial install of the app did not have any malware available, users were prompted to update the app after installing via Google Play.
This is where users were then taken to a Github page to install the “update” which was actually the TeaBot trojan malware.
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A popular security firm Cleafy has also reported this trojan in other Apps and APKs such as the popular Streaming App TeaTV.
You can read Cleafy’s entire report on TeaBot malware using the link below.
TeaBot is Now Spreading Across the Globe – Cleafy
Before being removed, QR Code & Barcode – Scanner had over 10,000 downloads from the Google Play Store.
If you have this app on your Android device, REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY.
How to Protect Yourself
If you are an Android user that installs various Apps and APKs it is important to protect yourself.
Yes, even apps within the Google Play Store can sometimes bypass Google’s security measures and contain malware.
TROYPOINT suggests scanning apps and APKs you install on any Android device including Firestick/Fire TV with VirusTotal.
VirusTotal is extremely efficient at locating and analyzing suspicious malware such as TeaBot and more.
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How to Install VirusTotal on Firestick/Android
It is also important that you encrypt your data on any device with a VPN.
This will protect your online identity and make you completely anonymous to onlookers such as Internet Service Providers and hackers.
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Thank you for all your info I am not keen on Google play store.
Ty for the info and FYI’s.
My thoughs on your share with google and android…. I recetly had just such odd issues with my android 11 and am forced to change passwords like daily on google.
I do not think the co truly cares being that they beig google wants to own the unverse and more. They cotrol what we can watch, what we can share, and really hurt a great deal of content creators within youtube. A platform years ago used to save pics and great memories of family, friends, then grew a ton because of people like yourself, that I see as “founding members” It is a great simple search engine and then some. It does not shock me that they had a issue yet am starting to learn more sites that are not dark web shady stuff but if for ex you brought over the viewers/followers as did many other, worked very hard with some that think a cell phone cam is all content creators do yet editing time, uploads, no different then owning a personal business but more fun. We need another YouTube like platform along with the simple google with more freedom and allow those to earn…. being that you and others truly brought the entire business that is now back in there pockets. Not even a thankyou. So I say use them if you need it, support the youtuber not the youtube, and take what i see as karma as google wants more than regulation and with the funds they take away should go to test googles limit using what they took and fund a safe site for all. Bitter yet not much to steal from me . I keep myself ip to date and protected .
I have never been crazy about about Google play store or Google Chrome. But I used it because a lot of the apps that I wanted came from there.