Malicious World Cup apps serve as 'SMS Stealer' on Android devices

Cybercriminals are using the 2014 World Cup as a perfect platform to compromise users, with security specialists warning of malicious apps. There are almost 400 apps, all targeting Google Android-powered smartphones, becoming extremely popular in third-party app stores.

Compromised devices will block incoming text messages, send SMS to premium numbers, and install even more malware. SMS Stealer and similar threats also steal contact phone numbers, email addresses, and other information from an infected device.

The SMS Stealer is the most troublesome World Cup malicious app, because of "the capacity of criminals to colonize Android devices, not just for premium messaging abuse, but for other malicious purposes," according to a statement from Trend Micro, in a statement sent to SC Magazine.