Smartphone users should avoid third-party apps.
Security experts at Zscaler warn smartphone users that Porn ‘Adult Player’ Android app takes photos of you and demands a $500 ransom. The fine message they install on smartphone displays, is not only illegal, but it is also a hard-to-disinfect malware that can completely destroy devices.
Few people have had the ‘opportunity’ of getting their phones destroyed by the malicious porn app, but those who did, have notified security companies hoping they could thus, prevent the program from spreading. Zscaler, the company that has closely analyzed the situation, has stated that the “Adult Player” app is a ransomware program.
Users get unknowingly photographed while using the porn application. A message is immediately displayed on the smartphone screen letting them know that the incriminating picture will be made public if the user refuses to pay the $500 ransom.
If users do not obey to this demand, a new message is displayed saying that the smartphone has been blocked because the user has been involved in illegal pornography. Child and animal pornography are also mentioned in an attempt to get users to pay the ransom as quickly as possible. Victims have something to lose whether they choose to pay or to ignore the message.
If they go with the second option, their phone will be forever blocked. The message remains on the screen even if customers uninstall the app. The safest method is for users to completely avoid such online programs, whose developer is unknown.
Third-party apps come from unreliable sources. The majority of them have to be thoroughly verified before users can consider them trustworthy. These apps can usually be found in Google Play store, but reading other users’ reviews can also help you make an idea.
Zscaler has nevertheless, found a solution to help users get rid of the ransomware app. They recommend victims to boot the phone in safe mode and then, to select the app and disable it.
Unreliable third-party apps can also be avoided by setting your phone up to display only trusted sources. For this, go to the Settings menu in Google Play and uncheck the “Unknown Sources” option.
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