Is a Squid Game-based app infecting Android phones with malware? Continue reading
Is a Squid Game-based app infecting Android phones with malware? Continue reading to learn more.
Netflix’s next dystopian fantasy drama, Squid Game, has been the talk of the town in recent weeks. So much so that it has inspired the development of smartphone apps, wallpapers, Halloween costumes, and other items. One thing the creators did not expect was that Squid Game would inspire a slew of cybercriminals. An ESET researcher recently discovered that a Google Play Store app for Squid Game backgrounds was downloading the Joker virus on multiple Android phones.
According to Lukas Stefanko, the ESET researcher who reported the issue to Google, the app was installing malware on Android handsets. The “Squid Game Wallpaper 4K HD” app had been downloaded at least 5,000 times before Google removed it from their app market. Anyone who downloaded the app became a victim of a costly SMS trap, in which the programme could also download and run native libraries and APK payloads to control the targeted cellphones.
According to Stefano, the Google Play Store contains over 200 apps based on Squid Game. The Joker virus has existed for quite some time. Attackers can use the software to sign people up for expensive services. According to the researchers, the vulnerability exists due to the popularity of the Netflix show, and they advise viewers to be cautious when installing Squid Game applications.
In other news, Netflix has created an entire product portfolio based on its well-known series and characters, and they appear to be making a name for themselves on the internet. Walmart has launched its largest online destination for Netflix products, offering items from shows such as ‘Squid Game,’ ‘The Witcher,’ ‘Stranger Things,’ and others just in time for the holiday season. With these shows, the store intends to sell items ranging from music to clothing, toys, and games. Plush dolls and Halloween costumes, as well as bedding and gadgets for showgoers, will also be available.
