Yesterday about users spotted a mistaken version of the close pop WhatsApp messaging app for Android on the official Google Play Store that has already tricked to a greater extent than than i meg users into downloading it.
Dubbed Update WhatsApp Messenger, came from an app developer who pretended to hold upwards the actual WhatsApp service amongst the developer championship "WhatsApp Inc."—the same championship the actual WhatsApp messenger uses on Google Play.
You mightiness hold upwards wondering how the sneaky app developer was able to role the same championship every bit the legitimate Facebook-owned maker of the messaging client—thanks to a Unicode graphic symbol space.
The app maker added a Unicode graphic symbol infinite later the actual WhatsApp Inc. name, which inwards estimator code reads WhatsApp+Inc%C2%A0.
However, this hidden graphic symbol infinite at the terminate of the WhatsApp Inc. would hold upwards easily invisible to an average Android user browsing Google Play Store, allowing this dodgy version of the app to masquerade every bit a production of WhatsApp Inc.
In other words, the titles used yesteryear the mistaken app maker as well as existent WhatsApp service are dissimilar precisely appeared same to a user.
According to Redditors, who kickoff spotted this mistaken app on Friday, the app was non a chat app; instead, it served Android users amongst advertisements to download other apps.
"I've too installed the app as well as decompiled it," i Redditor said. "The app itself has minimal permissions (internet access) precisely it's basically an ad-loaded wrapper which has about code to download a mo apk, too called 'whatsapp.apk.' The app too tries to shroud yesteryear non having a championship as well as having a blank icon."
Google has right away removed the mistaken WhatsApp Android app from its official Play Store, precisely this incident i time once again marked the tech giant's failure to location the scam on its app platform—even for the programme that had to a greater extent than than a meg downloads.
It is an unfortunate truth that fifty-fifty later as well as thus many efforts yesteryear Google (even late launched Bug Bounty Program), malicious apps continuously somehow managed to fool its Play Store's safety machinery as well as infect millions of Android users.
Google Play Store is withal surrounded yesteryear hundreds of other mistaken as well as malicious apps that line a fast i on users into downloading as well as installing them as well as potentially infect their smartphones to behave out malicious things without their knowledge.
So, users are advised to hold upwards to a greater extent than vigilant piece downloading apps non alone from the third-party app shop precisely too from official Play Store inwards lodge to protect themselves.
