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An impostor application disguised as MyMonero recently infiltrated the Google Play Store and was reported by the Reddit r/Monero community.
The app, which users claimed to have a very small number of downloads, impersonated as the official Monero application and likely tried to phish users for private keys.
The app has since been taken down.
A Fake App Appears on Google’s Play Store
The app was found on Android’s native application store – Play Store.
The app’s presence was pointed out on Reddit in the Monero community channel by u/TheLast10sat and u/SamsungGalaxyPlayer.
Other members were quick to comment on the availability of the fake app in the store.
XMR contributor u/endogenic rushed to the rescue, telling people that the app is indeed fake, and no one should download it.
Endogenic then wrote on Reddit:
“CAUTION: An imposter MyMonero app has appeared on the Google Play store. Do not download it… unless you want your keys potentially stolen!
Here’s the offending listing:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=market.transfer.secure.safe.mymonero
We have issued a take-down request to Google, are investigating any necessary legal steps, and would strongly caution all users to avoid this app.
You can help by leaving reviews on the listing warning people about the danger of using it, as it’s likely a phishing app.”
Google Takes Down the App
The app has now been taken down by Google, and the link to the app does not work anymore.
The app was designed to emulate the Monero website. Google’s Play Store is not new to controversies when it comes to cryptocurrency applications.
Cybersecurity researcher Lukas Stefanko revealed that he found four fake cryptocurrency applications that posed as MetaMask, Neo wallet, and Tether wallet.
One user also asked why Google took the app down since there was no official app and Monero was a decentralized community.
The user also said that it shouldn’t have been done until the exploits from the app were proven.
No statement from Google or the developer of the imposter app have been seen till press time.
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