Google, which has been trying to keep malicious apps out of the Play Store for a long time, seems to have been unsuccessful in its latest efforts. The company, which regularly removes applications with pirated software from the platform, had to delete more than 200 applications infected with a virus called GriftHorse in its last clean.
According to the statement made by Zimperium Labs, GriftHorse has infiltrated not only the applications available on the Google Play Store, but also third-party applications, and this virus has so far infected approximately 10 million Android devices in more than 70 countries.
GriftHorse’s earnings to date are approximately $4 million
GriftHorse provides premium SMS service to its victims in exchange for a subscription system. GriftHorse, which has a monthly subscription fee of over $35, is thought to have earned $4 million so far. It was also revealed that the first people GriftHorse defrauded paid more than $230.
Zimperium has informed Google about the pirated software, and Google has removed the infected applications from the Play Store as soon as possible. However, the fact that the application is still included in third-party applications shows that the danger has not passed yet.
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