back to article Shocker: Smut-viewing Android apps actually steal your data

A brace of supposed porn apps for Android actually push ransomware or steal personal data from mobile device, cloud security firm Zscaler warns. One strain of Android malware scares the user with a warning screen that falsely accusing them of watching images of child abuse. After installing the app on a device, the user will …

  1. steogede

    How does one obtain these apps?

    Is this malware in the Play store? Or do you have to go to extraordinary lengths to install it?

    1. captain veg Silver badge

      Re: How does one obtain these apps?

      You probably don't need to install it if you've already gone to extraordinary lengths.

      -A.

    2. Planty Bronze badge

      Re: How does one obtain these apps?

      Of course it's not in the play store, but that's not playing the clickbait game.

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Why?

    In the days of private browsing and free internet porn, why would people bother downloading porn viewer apps?

    Maybe I'm old and naive, but I don't get the point.

    1. captain veg Silver badge

      Re: Why?

      UI optimised for one-handed navigation?

      -A.

      1. Camilla Smythe

        Re: Why?

        UI optimised for one-handed navigation?

        FleshPhone™... Comes with image stabilisation.

        1. captain veg Silver badge

          Re: Why?

          I was thinking of the other hand.

          -A.

    2. Crazy Operations Guy

      Re: Why?

      That's what I was thinking, the phone has a media player and a web browser, no need for an app... I would also assume that the more popular porn websites would have a mobile-friendly version available.

      At the very least, a micro-SD card loaded with pre-downloaded videos should work well enough (I do this with regular movies and TV when I have to travel to Saudi Arabia for work since pretty much everything fun is banned in that country)

  3. chivo243 Silver badge

    Isn't a browser

    software enough? I guess there's a sucker br0n every minute?

  4. 0laf
    Paris Hilton

    IP69 dude

    Is this the real reason for all these IP68 fluid-proof phones.

    Paris, because..well if you need an explanation....

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Gimp

      Re: IP69 dude

      "IP68 fluid-proof phones"

      Cripes. IP66 is proof against spraying with something like a garden hose. What the hell kind of fluid flinging would need 68 or 69 in this context?

      69 is off the scale, anyway but would definitely justify "dude".

  5. Old Handle
    Thumb Down

    It seems to me one side of this story is missing. Google Play does not allow porn apps, so anyone looking for something like that has to look elsewhere. Meaning this advice is nearly worthless:

    We are seeing an increasing number of adult themed Android malware apps using pornography to lure victims. To avoid being a victim of such malware, it is always best to download apps only from trusted app stores, such as Google Play

    Is there a "trusted" app store that allows porn? If not, there should be. But unless or until there is, telling people to use one is little more than slut shaming.

    1. Crazy Operations Guy

      "Is there a "trusted" app store..."

      I wouldn't even trust Google Play for any kind of app anyway, let alone anything pornographic... I suppose you could trust getting such apps from the major players themselves (Provided the code is signed with a legitimate certificate).

  6. Chris G

    Pwned

    You think pr0n on a phone can be a problem?

    Just wait until the IoT comes to your Japanese 'Pleasure Doll' and you can download role playing apps for it, that would be a good time to take the fan out of the room.

  7. gollux
    Mushroom

    Monkey trap, stick your hand in the hole to retrieve the shiny object, find sharpened spikes driven in at an optimal angle so you can't get your hand out...

  8. Pascal Monett Silver badge
    Windows

    Scantily-clad women on a 6" screen, what's the point ?

    Bloody kids, can't even do their pr0n viewing on a proper 26" widescreen.

    Do we really have to teach them everything ?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Scantily-clad women on a 6" screen, what's the point ?

      More to the point, at what point did "scantily clad women" become pornography? Talk about scope creep...the meaning of pornography was originally limited to pictures of, or writing about, paid for sex (the porn bit is from the Greek word for prostitute.) If the people doing it are doing so for love rather than money, it's erotica.

      But I'm the cynic who thinks the real reason the government wants to ban all this stuff on the Internet is so that its friends can make more money selling it. Think of the children dividends.

      1. Steven Roper

        Re: Scantily-clad women on a 6" screen, what's the point ?

        "More to the point, at what point did "scantily clad women" become pornography? Talk about scope creep..."

        Welcome to the wonderful world of modern mass-media feminism and its "sexually-objectifying women" and "male gaze" mantras. These days, any picture of a woman showing more skin than face, wrists and ankles and/or wearing anything more revealing or form-fitting than army fatigues, is classed as objectification, therefore pornography.

  9. Arctic fox
    WTF?

    Silly wankers.

    Figuratively and literally

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