Minecraft clones with millions of downloads spread adware

About 38 Minecraft clones available on Google Play have already infected millions of users with Android adware to load ads in the background to generate revenue for its actors.

Cloned games hiding malware have already amassed approximately 35 million downloads worldwide. The leading players that downloaded the malicious match came from the United States, South Korea, Brazil, and Canada.

The users did not notice the adware activity that the malicious app executed in the background, as they could run and play the games. Moreover, some signs that the apps could be infectious are that they could cause the device to overheat and increase data consumption or battery usage.

Fortunately, researchers have already reported malicious apps to Google. The company has already removed the adware apps.

The confirmed Android applications that include adware and infected millions of users are Block Box Master Diamond, Craft Sword Mini Fun, Craft Monster, Crazy Sword, Block Box Skyland Sword, Block Pro Forrest Diamond, Block Game Skyland Forrest, Block Rainbow Sword Dragon, Craft Rainbow Mini Builder, and Block Forrest Tree Crazy.

 

These clones that spoofed Minecraft have loaded ads in the background without the users’ consent.

 

Investigations revealed that the fake Minecraft apps loaded ads in the background once the users launched the game. However, network traffic analysis shows the exchange of multiple questionable packets developed by Unity, AppLoving, Supersonic, and Google ad libraries.

Researchers also claimed that the initial network packets on multiple applications’ infrastructure overlap, although each app’s domains differ.

This detail, supported by the similar names of the games, implies a possible link between these infectious apps. Hence, there could be a single developer that generates these applications.

Adware applications do not pose any dangerous threats to users. However, they could still reduce the performance of a mobile device, affect privacy, and even create security flaws that could lead to a more hostile act.

Users should refrain from downloading knock-off applications even on legitimate app stores since they could contain malicious payloads such as adware.