How much damage can a BMI calculator app do to your phone? It turns out that it’s not what the app can do, but what it hides in its code that you should be concerned about. This is the case of an app uploaded to the Amazon Appstore that contained spyware that was discovered by McAfee.
McAfee Detects Malware Glitch in BMI App on Amazon Appstore
As McAfee discovered, the malicious app pretends to be a simple BMI calculator. Sure enough, when you download it, it does exactly that. You can enter your height and weight, and the app will tell you whether your BMI is in a healthy range or not.
However, something strange happens when you click “Calculate”. Suddenly, the app asks you to allow it to record your screen. Given the location of the permission request, it seems like cybercriminals want to take advantage of people’s impatience and accept any pop-up that appears to get their BMI results.
If the user accepts this request, the app will start recording the target’s screen, presumably to steal any private information the user enters into the app. The malicious app may also record SMS messages (presumably to steal 2FA codes) and get a list of target apps.
When McAfee analyzed the code, they found that the app had all the means to collect data, but it wasn’t actually sending it anywhere. It’s unclear whether the cybercriminals wanted to keep it a secret and wait for more downloads before activating the feature, or whether they simply forgot about it. Either way, the app was taken down before it could do any damage.
While we were lucky this time, not all malicious apps will be detected like this. Always be careful when downloading apps, even if they seem simple and are offered on official app stores! If an app asks for Android permissions it doesn’t need (like screen recording permission for the BMI app), deny it; who knows what the app could collect if you allow it.
Chrome on Android is a great browser out of the box, but you can make it even better. These tips and features will help you browse the web faster.
When you compare smartphones from nearly two decades ago and today, you can't help but notice that they've gotten worse in a variety of ways.
Just like the .exe file on the Windows operating system is used to install software, the same is true on the Android operating system. APK files on the Android operating system are used to install software on the system. So how to download and install APK files on Android devices, please refer to the article below of WebTech360.
Are you bored with static wallpapers on your phone? Try this method of turning videos into beautiful wallpapers for Android.
The lock screen on your phone or tablet is a tool designed to prevent strangers from accessing your device. Because of this importance, setting up the lock screen in the safest and most reasonable way is something every user should do. The article below summarizes 4 things you should apply to the lock screen on Android and iOS to master the above feature and protect your device from unauthorized access.
Developer options on Android devices are hidden by default, to avoid changes that affect the system. The following article will guide readers on how to enable developer mode on Android, illustrated on the Samsung Galaxy S9, and how to disable this option if you no longer use it.
Smartphones and tablets can easily fill up with storage, especially if you've been using them for a while. Here are some ways to free up space on your Android device.
Deleting apps you know you won't use is a great way to save storage space and minimize background processes on your phone.
It's easy to think of screenshots as temporary, but many of us never delete them. The danger is that some of them can become gold mines for hackers, identity thieves, or even just curious friends.
Many people think that their Samsung phone battery can no longer meet the daily needs. But after turning off these overlooked settings, the battery can easily last all day.
Current web browsers on computers or phones all have the option to delete browsing history, such as deleting browsing history on Chrome, deleting browsing history on Firefox,...
Many people never thought they would leave Stock Android. But after just a week of using this launcher, they now find the original interface bland and restrictive.
Microsoft's new feature makes it easy to open shared files on Android anonymously without having to log in to your account.
Losing your phone is one of the most frustrating experiences you can have. While you may not be able to get your old device back, there are ways to recover your data.
Smartphones have replaced so many other devices. They are so versatile that you probably don't need any of the categories of devices they replace.
Chrome on Android is a great browser out of the box, but you can make it even better. These tips and features will help you browse the web faster.
When you compare smartphones from nearly two decades ago and today, you can't help but notice that they've gotten worse in a variety of ways.
Just like the .exe file on the Windows operating system is used to install software, the same is true on the Android operating system. APK files on the Android operating system are used to install software on the system. So how to download and install APK files on Android devices, please refer to the article below of WebTech360.
Are you bored with static wallpapers on your phone? Try this method of turning videos into beautiful wallpapers for Android.
The lock screen on your phone or tablet is a tool designed to prevent strangers from accessing your device. Because of this importance, setting up the lock screen in the safest and most reasonable way is something every user should do. The article below summarizes 4 things you should apply to the lock screen on Android and iOS to master the above feature and protect your device from unauthorized access.
Today's technological developments can allow you to directly extract text from images captured with a smartphone camera.
As soon as you update your iPhone to the official iOS 16 version, you will be able to set an iPhone wallpaper without covering your face when adjusting the wallpaper according to the depth effect.
While Apple's Photos app is useful for basic tasks like cropping photos, it doesn't offer many advanced editing features. And that's where a third-party photo editor comes in handy.
Developer options on Android devices are hidden by default, to avoid changes that affect the system. The following article will guide readers on how to enable developer mode on Android, illustrated on the Samsung Galaxy S9, and how to disable this option if you no longer use it.
Smartphones and tablets can easily fill up with storage, especially if you've been using them for a while. Here are some ways to free up space on your Android device.
Deleting apps you know you won't use is a great way to save storage space and minimize background processes on your phone.
It's easy to think of screenshots as temporary, but many of us never delete them. The danger is that some of them can become gold mines for hackers, identity thieves, or even just curious friends.
Many people think that their Samsung phone battery can no longer meet the daily needs. But after turning off these overlooked settings, the battery can easily last all day.
Current web browsers on computers or phones all have the option to delete browsing history, such as deleting browsing history on Chrome, deleting browsing history on Firefox,...
You can use iCloud Keychain or iCloud Keychain to save your passwords and easily access them on your iPhone. Here's how to recover deleted passwords on your iPhone.
