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Malicious Android App Will Steal Your Data, Make You Feel Bad About It

by Amar Toor on March 31, 2011 at 01:20 PM

walk and text fake app
Android users should be on the lookout for a malicious little app that's circulating around some file-sharing sites. The app, called 'Walk and Text,' advertises itself as a legitimate app of the same name, which uses a smartphone's camera to help guide texters as they walk. Unlike the real 'Walk and Text,' though, the fake app is available for free, and offers version 1.3.7 (which doesn't exist, yet).

Once the bogus app is downloaded and running, it'll suddenly display a dialog box, informing the user that the software has been compromised. Once that box pops up, however, the app will start collecting all the user's personal information stored on the phone, including usernames, phone numbers, and ID numbers that are unique to each device. That data will then be sent to an external server, according to Symantec.

The app, which Symantec has dubbed 'Android.WalkinWat,' will also send out a text message to all a user's contacts, telling them, "Hey, just downloaded a pirated App off the Internet, Walk and Text for Android. Im stupid and cheap, it costed only 1 buck.Don't steal like I did!" Then, it'll send you a message, which reads: "We really hope you learned something from this. Check your phone bill;) Oh and don't forget to buy the App from the Market." This malware has a conscience.

Tags: android, apps, data, malware, piracy, Rogue, security, smartphone, Texting, top, walk and text, WalkAndText

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