Popular Android security app 'Virus Shield' is a total scam with zero functionality

[Shawn Knight]

Most mobile-minded hackers use third-party app stores and repackaged apps to make money via bogus ad views or to turn your handset into a virtual currency mining rig but one recent developer took a completely different approach to game the system.

An app called Virus Shield hit the Google Play Store a little over a week ago. It promised to prevent harmful apps from being installed on your device and could scan apps, settings, files and media in real-time – all with a low impact on battery life and zero advertisements.

With a simple user interface and one-touch virus protection, it climbed the ranks and became the #1 new paid app with more than 10,000 downloads and a 4.7-star rating despite its $3.99 price tag. So, what’s the problem?

It’s a total scam.

As pointed out by Android Police, the app doesn’t protect your device. And no, I don’t mean that it sucks at its job – it flat out doesn’t do anything. When “activated” by the user, all it does it change the onscreen icon from an “X” image to a “check” symbol. That’s it.

The publication decompiled the app and even mirrored the Java code on GitHub so you can check it for yourself. And since that time, a number of Google+ users have also confirmed its bogus nature.

Google has since pulled the app from the Play Store but the damage has already been done and the fraudster likely made quite a bit of money in the process. But more worrisome is the fact that it highlights just how easy it is to get a bogus app into Google’s official marketplace in the first place.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/56296-popular-android-security-app-virus-shield-is-a-total-scam-with-zero-functionality.html

 

[Vrmithrax]

And then comes the class action lawsuit, which (after lawyer fees) will get each user about $0.25 refunded.

Of course, my first thought would be that I'm not sure I would trust a company named "Deviant" anything to protect my phone... Heh.

 

[Guest]

I haven't heard of this app till now, but I have to say it's embarrassing for Google that this made it into the 'top app' category at all. There's a *lot* of garbage in the Play Store, but one would hope that there's some type of curating going on with the top apps. I wonder how Deviant Solutions managed to drum up the initial interest in enough users who were willing to drop $4 for their app?

 

[m4a4]

And this is why I don't jump on the bandwagon for the serious stuff. I would rather go with a company I know that's been in the business long enough to have a good reputation...

 

[Guest]

I love my Windows Phone

 

[Jad Chaar]

I gotta say, this is very clever on the developers part, but very unethical.

I hope Google learns from this and tightens their app submission and review policy. Apple should also learn from this and better watch out for scam ridden apps. I know a ton of fake 3rd party keyboard apps that are total scams on the App Store that tons of people (luckily not myself) have fallen victim to.

 

[hahahanoobs]

Thanks Google. And thank you open source platforms.

 

[Guest]

I dont... I miss the blue screen with a memory segmentation error )

 

[Guest]

Do these things happen on Apple's App Store? No.

Does that mean Apple's store is better than the Play Store? Uh, not really.

A 'curated' site like Apple's does allow for safety, but to my way of seeing it, we as consumers are the ultimate line of defence. So more shocking to me is the RATING it go on the Play Store than the number of downloads. Those to bought it are victims, but does that make those who bought and rated it complicit? Uh, again I'd say not really.

 

[NeurotechHD]

I'm assuming the developer used a credit card or bank account to transfer the funds. They should be able to find him a prosecute him.

 

[Guest]

At least they were honest about no ads and easy on system resources.

 

[Guest]

So, people pays $3.99 for an app that can only does change the onscreen icon from an "X" image to a "check" symbol.

Nice work, Google, nice work for letting fraud-ware apps roaming free at play store.. xD

 

[veLa]

There's a lot of phony apps like this on the Play Store.

 

[ajm123]

I don't see why people would download an antivirus app on a phone in the first place...don't download anything shady and you'll be fine.

 

[Guest]

To all the people blaming this on the "open source" policy. Get your facts straight.
Remember that the fact that it is open source is the ONLY reason we know its a scam 'at all'. If this app was closed source we'd have never found out.

Thank you I'm done here.

 

[Guest]

I don't see why people would download an antivirus app on a phone in the first place...don't download anything shady and you'll be fine.

lol ... the people that download THIS app are the people that NEED apps like this ... well not this particular one .. a real one.

 

[Guest]

"To all the people blaming this on the "open source" policy. Get your facts straight.
Remember that the fact that it is open source is the ONLY reason we know its a scam 'at all'. If this app was closed source we'd have never found out.
Thank you I'm done here."

Um.. in a closed source store.. this app would have been caught before it even made it into the market place. Personally I have no problem with open source software.. I do however think that Google should actually review each app before it makes it into their store. But hey that would cost money and someone would have to pay the bills.

Your Welcome I'm done here.

 

[Guest]

Well not in the same league as that British guy selling antibomb scanners to Iraqis - that could cost lives ( & lesser extend save lives )

Nor the medical profession giving out Placebos

 

[GhostRyder]

Well its bound to happen when you don't have tight restrictions on your systems.

 

[Guest]

And this is why I don't jump on the bandwagon for the serious stuff. I would rather go with a company I know that's been in the business long enough to have a good reputation...

Yip, I agree that Microsoft is the way to go. A company with years of experience building quality software that you can generally rely on, and the fact they now make smart phones (courtesy of the Nokia acquisition), things can only get better.

Um.. in a closed source store.. this app would have been caught before it even made it into the market place. Personally I have no problem with open source software.. I do however think that Google should actually review each app before it makes it into their store. But hey that would cost money and someone would have to pay the bills.

Um, that kind of goes against the "open source" doctrine. Although, Google has started demonstrating a tendency of doing away with the openness of open source by restricting what can be done on Android. Kind of defeats the point of it all, to be honest. That's why, as a developer myself, I can appreciate open source, but not for commercial purposes. If people take open source and free projects, purchase a license from the original owner, or outright buy the code, and then make their own product based on that, then its all good in my books. Watch this space, Google will eventually be forced to seriously limit the open nature of Android to cut out all the bad stuff like in this article, and when that happens, and it will (Eventually), then Android will lose its appeal.

 

[Guest]

Some days, I read articles like this and I don't if it's real, or a targeted campaign (including some over-enthusiastic comments that support the article's main premise) against a competitor.

But more worrisome is the fact that it highlights just how easy it is to get a bogus app into Google’s official marketplace in the first place.

So, now what? Turn the Play store into a walled garden like Apple's App store? Why people always ask for more control in anything for any reason? It's not like the Play store is democratic or open, anyway. But, this is what we do as a society, after all; cater to the lowest common denominator.

I would still say the same, even if I was one of the people that bought that app.

**** happens, is that too scary?

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Do these things happen on Apple's App Store? No.

Does that mean Apple's store is better than the Play Store? Uh, not really.

A 'curated' site like Apple's does allow for safety, but to my way of seeing it, we as consumers are the ultimate line of defence. So more shocking to me is the RATING it go on the Play Store than the number of downloads. Those to bought it are victims, but does that make those who bought and rated it complicit? Uh, again I'd say not really.

Why are you answering your own questions?

 

[Raoul Duke]

I found it hilarious, until I thought of the 10,000+ well intentioned folks that enriched some scammer. Good thing it was only $3.99 Personally it would be my pride that would be more damaged than anything else if I had downloaded it and gave it a high-rating.

 

[tonylukac]

Seems another semi scam is that some android phones don't have gps even tho they say they do. They get their coordinates by triangulation, if it works at all.