- Gen Research states that malicious applications in the main application stores are increasing
- New bank troyans, predatory loan applications and the like have been seen
- Official application stores remain a safer bet than third -party
Application stores are becoming an increasingly important security concern, since more and more malicious applications are discovered in stores owned by the main brands, experts warned.
A new report by Cybersecurity Gen researchers states that it observed new mobile bankers (telephone applications designed to steal bank information) launched in the fourth quarter of 2024, often disguising visa applications, appointment applications or chrome browsers. Gen added that the well -known Bankbot Banker compromised 236% more devices compared to the previous quarter.
In addition to bank applications, malicious loan applications also increased, researchers said. These promise fast money, but demand excessive permits (SMS, photos, confidential data) that then use in extortion, threatening to publish data from victims unless they pay.
Generally safe
Gen also pointed out that cybercriminals are adopting novel distribution tactics in application stores. Recently, they discovered a new malware strain disguised as body mass index (BMI). The application was extended through the Amazon application store.
The main application stores such as Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store are generally safe because these companies invest a lot in security measures to protect users. They use automated malware detection, manual application reviews and strict developer policies to prevent harmful applications from reaching their customers.
Characteristics such as Google Play Protect Scan applies in real time, while Apple’s notarization process guarantees that applications are examined before approval. Regular security updates, user reporting systems and application removal policies improve safety further.
Obviously, no platform is completely free of risk. We have seen malicious applications in these stores in the past, and we will probably also see them in the future. However, these application stores provide a significantly safer environment than third or unofficial sources.
