In our daily monitoring of the mobile threat landscape, we found a copy of the game Temple Run in the Android Market. Temple Run is a popular game app currently available for iOS only. I checked the app and immediately noticed something odd about it. I decided to analyze it to check if my doubts had any basis.
This copy of Temple Run (or so it claims) is seen as available on the Android Market. But if you’ll check the information on the game developer, you’ll see that it is not the same developer as the one in indicated in the iOS version, which is Imangi Studios.
The usage of popular games is not really new, aas we’ve already encountered other Android malware that have used them to hide their malicious activities:
- New Android Malware on the Road: GoldDream “Catcher”
- Trojanized Android App Checks for Keywords in SMS Messages
Imangi Studios, the developer of Temple Run, announced that they will release the Android version of the game this February 2012. Users can monitor updates about the release via the apps legitimate developer/fan page.
With more than 10 billion app downloads last year from the Android Market, the Android OS is undoubtedly one of the most popular mobile platforms around. Naturally, its popularity makes it a likely target for cybercrime. In our 12 Security Predictions for 2012, we are expecting that smartphones, tablets and particularly the Android OS will suffer more attacks this year.
Users need not worry as their mobile devices are protected from this threat with Trend Micro Mobile Security via pattern 1.187.00. Trend Micro Mobile Security is powered by the Trend MicroT Smart Protection NetworkT.
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