Google Play Removes Scammers’ EIght False Mining Applications

After being discovered to be harmful, Google Play removed eight false mining applications. Trend Micro, a security organization, stated in a blog post published on August 18 that the apps are being used fraudulently by scammers.

Trend Micro Advises Google Play To Remove Eight False Mining Applications

According to the cybersecurity software business, these mining applications tricked consumers into watching advertisements, paying for subscription services that cost an average of $15 per month, and paying for fictitious improved mining capabilities.

BitFunds – Crypto Cloud Mining

Bitcoin Miner – Cloud Mining

Bitcoin ($BTC) – Pool Mining Cloud Wallet

Crypto Holic – Bitcoin Cloud Mining

Daily Bitcoin Rewards – Cloud Based Mining System

Bitcoin 2021

MineBit Pro – Crypto Cloud Mining & $BTC miner

Ethereum (ETH) – Pool Mining Cloud

Trend Micro said that the false mining activity on the applications' user interface (UI) is done using a local mining simulation module that includes a counter and certain random routines and that analysis indicated that the eight detected apps did not contain any cryptocurrency mining functionality.

Surprisingly, two of these dangerous programs are not free. Users must spend $12.99 to obtain Crypto Holic – Bitcoin Cloud Mining and $5.99 to download Daily Bitcoin Rewards – Cloud Based Mining System.

Google Play's Rapid Action To Remove False Mining Applications 

Trend Micro stated that following the discovery, it notified the infected applications to Google Play, which quickly deleted them.

Despite Google Play's rapid action, Trend Micro claims that there is still a slew of troubling applications that appear when searching for “cloud mining” on the site. 

Some of these have been downloaded over 100,000 times.

“According to Trend Micro Mobile App Reputation Service (MARS) statistics, there are still more than 120 fraudulent Bitcoin mining apps available online. 

From July 2020 to July 2021, these applications, which do not have Bitcoin mining capabilities and trick users into watching in-app advertising, harmed over 4,500 people globally,” the business said.

Users are advised to delete and uninstall the false mining applications from their devices. Trend Micro further recommends that consumers utilize security solutions that can detect fraudulent apps to avoid these types of attacks.