Android porn app Adult Player secretly snaps users - and blackmails them

Security researchers have discovered a new type of mobile malware that pretends to be a porn app, but secretly takes photos of users and then locks their phones, demanding a ransom. The Adult Player Android app masquerades as a pornography app, but once installed, when it is opened, it secretly takes photos of users with the phone’s front-facing camera, according to security firm Zscaler. Once the photographs are taken, the malware then locks the user’s device, threatening to either expose the user and reveal privacy information, or to completely wipe the device of all its contents.

To avoid being victim of such ransomware, it is always best to download apps only from trusted app stores, such as Google Play.

A blog post from security firm Zscaler

If the user wants to keep their information and data safe, he or she must agree to pay a ransom of $500 (£330) via PayPal immediately on the smartphone. Fortunately, there is a way to avoid paying the ransom and deactivate the app – Zscaler advised that users boot their Android device into “safe mode”, which runs the device with default settings, so no third-party apps are activated. Once the phone is on in safe mode, the user needs to access Settings > Security > Device Administrator, then deactivate the administrator privilege on the Adult Player app and then go to Uninstall in Apps under Settings to completely remove the app.

Technology Android malware