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Pokemon Go: Fake Apps Infiltrate Google Play Store, Says ESET

Pokemon Go: Fake Apps Infiltrate Google Play Store, Says ESET

By Indo-Asian News Service | Updated: 18 July 2016 10:46 IST

Highlights

The malicious apps have been pulled from Google Play.
Fake apps highlight the security risks of an open ecosystem
Pokemon Go Ultimate and Pokemongo were two of the fake apps

A malicious gaming app called Pokemon Go Ultimate, the first "lockscreen" app has made its way onto the Google Play store, said software security company ESET.

The app when downloaded and run is not installed as Pokemon Go but as "PI Network", a report published in Fortune said.

Anyone who ran that app would find their phone completely frozen, forcing them to restart the phone by removing the battery. After rebooting, the PI Network app seemed to disappear, but in fact continued running in the background and generating fake ad clicks, stated Fortune.

(Also see: Pokemon Go Review)

The Pokemon Go augmented reality game uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities of the device in conjunction with Google Maps to place virtual creatures in real world locations, which one then tries to find using your device as a guide.

(Also see: How to Download Pokemon Go APK, Install, and Play on Android)

Once in proximity to the placed creature, one then needs to use device's camera to view the creature and try to capture it.

ESET also spotted several other malicious apps, including Install Pokemongo and Guide & Cheats for Pokemon Go.

(Also see: This Indian Augmented Reality Game Could Be the Next Pokemon Go)

The plague of malicious tricks surrounding the augmented-reality game highlights the security risk posed by Android's relatively open app ecosystem.

Though the specific apps highlighted by ESET seem to have been removed from Google Play Store, a search found several apps named with variations on Install Pokemon Go.

(Also see: Meet India's Pokemon Go Players Who Gotta Catch 'Em All)

The app, however, has been pulled off from Google Play, ESET reported. One can uninstall the app manually by going to their phone's application manager.

The Pokemon Go is available on Google Playstore and Apple's App Store in the US, Japan and Australia, Philippines, New Zealand, Britain and Germany and is coming soon to India, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia.

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