Thousands of Android users have been conned with a fake anti-virus app that topped charts before the fraud was discovered.
CNET said the app "Virus Shield," launched March 28, costs $3.99 on Google Play. It promised users quick scans, easy-to-use interface and low impact on battery life. Users could activate the anti-virus with a screen tap, the app description claimed. In less than two weeks the app was downloaded more than 10,000 times and received rave reviews from users. It attained a five star rating based on 1,270 user reviews, according to CNET.
There was only one problem, though. The app was a fake. Android Police, which made the discovery, said the only thing the app does is change the image of an "X" to "check" image when the screen is tapped. The code of the app was posted to show it did not perform any function.
"This is fraud, pure and simple, and the developer 'Deviant Solutions' potentially made considerable amounts of money based on a complete lie. We assume that a lot of the initial reviews were not genuine. But now that it's on the top of the charts, at least a few people will be buying it in the belief that it will protect them," Android Police said.
Although a developer was not mentioned, a search using the developer's email shows the mail ID was banned from Sythe.org for scamming people.
Though Google removed Virus Shield from its market store, the incident has raised serious concerns about the open nature of the Android market.
"The issue highlights the ease with which developers can add apps to Android stores like Google Play. That makes it more open than Apple's tightly controlled App Store, but users have to be much more vigilant when downloading apps than iOS users," PC Magazine said.
IBTimes drew comparisons with Apple's iStore which has strict policies guiding applications. While it did not advocate such policies for Android given its open nature, it said there was a need to make the marketplace more secure.
