Skip to main content

Four fake cryptocurrency apps were listed on the Google Play Store

Google play
Ymgerman/123RF

If you’re hoping to cash in on cryptocurrency using your Android phone, you might want to be a little careful. Four bogus cryptocurrency apps were spotted on the Google Play Store this week, according to a report from cybersecurity researcher Lukas Stefanko.

Three of the four fake apps in question include Neo Wallet, Tether Wallet, and MetaMask. These bogus apps were present in the Google Play Store since the middle of October but were reported and then quickly removed. The apps attempted to either phish the cryptocurrency logins of consumers or impersonate real cryptocurrency wallets. For instance, unsuspecting victims who installed MetaMask could have had their cryptocurrencies rejected and incapable of being deposited because of the way scammers programmed the app to show a specific private key.

Recommended Videos

“These malicious apps only display attacker’s public address without user’s access to private key. Private key is owned by the bad guy. Once the fake app is launched, user thinks that app already generated his public address where user can deposit his cryptocurrency. If user send his funds to this wallet, he is not able to withdraw them because he doesn’t own private key,” said Lukas Stefanko.

All of the apps in question were built using AppyBuilder, a “drag and drop” service which anyone with general knowledge can use to code apps. That serves as a significant reminder to always double check the original developer of a Google Play App. And for cryptocurrency seekers, it is an important reminder to make sure that your mining app is loading up your own personal private key, and not a pre-set key.

Cryptocurrency mining on mobile platforms has been a very hot topic in recent times, as Apple has banned mining apps from its iOS devices. Millions of Android consumers were also at risk in February, when drive-by cryptominers redirected web traffic to a specific address.

The Google Play Store has been known to host malware in the past. Earlier in 2018, McAfee researchers found out that the Android app store hosted malware meant to steal photos, contact lists, and even text messages of North Korean defectors. Some of those apps were posing as security apps, while one was claiming to provide food ingredient information.

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
The Google Home app is getting a long-overdue feature
The Google Home logo on a Pixel phone.

According to the sleuths over at Android Authority, the Google Home app is about to get a much-needed feature that I'm honestly shocked hasn't been added yet: a search bar.

If you've never used the Google Home app before, it's sort of the command center for all things smart home in the Google smart home ecosystem. If you only have a few smart home devices, it's easy enough to navigate — but if you have an extensive smart home setup, you could have upwards of 50 devices listed in the app. If you don't take time to organize and label them, it gets unwieldy fast.

Read more
Now Playing is the best Google Pixel 9 feature you aren’t using
The Google Pixel 9 standing upright next to an Android statue.

The Google Pixel 9 is here, and if you haven't heard yet, it's excellent. Google did almost everything right this year — releasing phones with gorgeous hardware, excellent cameras, great battery life, and more.

All Pixel 9 phones also come with a host of new AI features. Some of them, like Add Me and Pixel Screenshots, are legitimately great. Others, like Pixel Studio, could have used more time in the oven.

Read more
The Google Tasks app just got a big redesign. Here’s what it looks like
Google Tasks August 2024 update shown on Android device.

The Google Tasks app has undergone a significant update, featuring a redesigned look. This update is being rolled out to users and will soon be available on your Android phone.

First revealed in June, the update provides a more polished user experience by replacing the current list format for each task with cards. The bottom bar has been removed; there's a floating action button instead. Furthermore, the three-dot overflow menu is now accessible from each card. The menu sits beside the app's sorting options.

Read more