A new Android malware called ‘Goldoson’ has been distributed via Google Play through 60 legitimate apps with 100 million downloads. The malware is part of a third-party library that developers have unwittingly added to their apps.

According to a research by McAfee Goldoson can perform ad fraud by clicking on ads in the background without the user’s consent and steal data from Android devices. The malware collects various data from the infected device and sends it to a remote server whose domain is obfuscated.

The ad click feature generates advertising revenue without the victim’s knowledge. Google Play has removed non-compliant apps and users can mitigate the risk by applying the latest available update.

However, Goldoson is also available on third-party Android app stores. Signs of adware and malware infection include the device heating up, the battery draining quickly and unusually high internet data usage, even when the device is not in use.

Indicators of Compromise

Domains
bhuroid.com
enestcon.com
htyyed.com
discess.net
gadlito.com
gerfane.com
visceun.com
onanico.net
methinno.net
goldoson.net
dalefs.com
openwor.com
thervide.net
soildonutkiel.com
treffaas.com
sorrowdeepkold.com
hjorsjopa.com
dggerys.com
ridinra.com
necktro.com
fuerob.com
phyerh.net
ojiskorp.net
rouperdo.net
tiffyre.net
superdonaldkood.com
soridok2kpop.com

List of Apps involved

Package Name Application Name GooglePlay Downloads  GP Status
com.lottemembers.android L.POINT with L.PAY 10M+ Updated*
com.Monthly23.SwipeBrickBreaker Swipe Brick Breaker 10M+ Removed**
com.realbyteapps.moneymanagerfree Money Manager Expense & Budget 10M+ Updated*
com.skt.tmap.ku TMAP – 대리,주차,전기차 충전,킥보 … 10M+ Updated*
kr.co.lottecinema.lcm 롯데시네마 10M+ Updated*
com.ktmusic.geniemusic 지니뮤직 – genie 10M+ Updated*
com.cultureland.ver2 컬쳐랜드[컬쳐캐쉬] 5M+ Updated*
com.gretech.gomplayerko GOM Player 5M+ Updated*
com.megabox.mop 메가박스(Megabox) 5M+ Removed**
kr.co.psynet LIVE Score, Real-Time Score 5M+ Updated*
sixclk.newpiki Pikicast 5M+ Removed**
com.appsnine.compass Compass 9: Smart Compass 1M+ Removed**
com.gomtv.gomaudio GOM Audio – Music, Sync lyrics 1M+ Updated*
com.gretech.gomtv 곰TV – All About Video 1M+ Updated*
com.guninnuri.guninday 전역일 계산기 디데이 곰신톡–군인 … 1M+ Updated*
com.itemmania.imiapp 아이템매니아 – 게임 아이템 거래 … 1M+ Removed**
com.lotteworld.android.lottemagicpass LOTTE WORLD Magicpass 1M+ Updated*
com.Monthly23.BounceBrickBreaker Bounce Brick Breaker 1M+ Removed**
com.Monthly23.InfiniteSlice Infinite Slice 1M+ Removed**
com.pump.noraebang 나홀로 노래방–쉽게 찾아 이용하는 … 1M+ Updated*
com.somcloud.somnote SomNote – Beautiful note app 1M+ Removed**
com.whitecrow.metroid Korea Subway Info : Metroid 1M+ Updated*
kr.co.GoodTVBible GOODTV다번역성경찬송 1M+ Removed**
kr.co.happymobile.happyscreen 해피스크린 – 해피포인트를 모으 … 1M+ Updated*
kr.co.rinasoft.howuse UBhind: Mobile Tracker Manager 1M+ Removed**
mafu.driving.free 스피드 운전면허 필기시험 … 1M+ Removed**
com.wtwoo.girlsinger.worldcup 이상형 월드컵 500K+ Updated*
kr.ac.fspmobile.cu CU편의점택배 500K+ Removed**
com.appsnine.audiorecorder 스마트 녹음기 : 음성 녹음기 100K+ Removed**
com.camera.catmera 캣메라 [순정 무음카메라] 100K+ Removed**
com.cultureland.plus 컬쳐플러스:컬쳐랜드 혜택 더하기 … 100K+ Updated*
com.dkworks.simple_air 창문닫아요(미세/초미세먼지/WHO … 100K+ Removed**
com.lotteworld.ticket.seoulsky 롯데월드타워 서울스카이 100K+ Updated*
com.Monthly23.LevelUpSnakeBall Snake Ball Lover 100K+ Removed**
com.nmp.playgeto 게토(geto) – PC방 게이머 필수 앱 100K+ Removed**
com.note.app.memorymemo 기억메모 – 심플해서 더 좋은 메모장 100K+ Removed**
com.player.pb.stream 풀빵 : 광고 없는 유튜브 영상 … 100K+ Removed**
com.realbyteapps.moneya Money Manager (Remove Ads) 100K+ Updated*
com.wishpoke.fanciticon Inssaticon – Cute Emoticons, K 100K+ Removed**
marifish.elder815.ecloud 클라우드런처 100K+ Updated*
com.dtryx.scinema 작은영화관 50K+ Updated*
com.kcld.ticketoffice 매표소–뮤지컬문화공연 예매& … 50K+ Updated*
com.lotteworld.ticket.aquarium 롯데월드 아쿠아리움 50K+ Updated*
com.lotteworld.ticket.waterpark 롯데 워터파크 50K+ Updated*
com.skt.skaf.l001mtm091 T map for KT, LGU+ 50K+ Removed**
org.howcompany.randomnumber 숫자 뽑기 50K+ Updated*
com.aog.loader 로더(Loader) – 효과음 다운로드 앱 10K+ Removed**
com.gomtv.gomaudio.pro GOM Audio Plus – Music, Sync l 10K+ Updated*
com.NineGames.SwipeBrickBreaker2 Swipe Brick Breaker 2 10K+ Removed**
com.notice.safehome 안심해 – 안심귀가 프로젝트 10K+ Removed**
kr.thepay.chuncheon 불러봄내 – 춘천시민을 위한 공공 … 10K+ Removed**
com.curation.fantaholic 판타홀릭 – 아이돌 SNS 앱 5K+ Removed**
com.dtryx.cinecube 씨네큐브 5K+ Updated*
com.p2e.tia.tnt TNT 5K+ Removed**
com.health.bestcare 베스트케어–위험한 전자기장, … 1K+ Removed**
com.ninegames.solitaire InfinitySolitaire 1K+ Removed**
com.notice.newsafe 안심해 : 안심지도 1K+ Removed**
com.notii.cashnote 노티아이 for 소상공인 1K+ Removed**
com.tdi.dataone TDI News – 최초 데이터 뉴스 앱 … 1K+ Removed**
com.ting.eyesting 눈팅 – 여자들의 커뮤니티 500+ Removed**
com.ting.tingsearch 팅서치 TingSearch 50+ Removed**
com.celeb.tube.krieshachu 츄스틱 : 크리샤츄 Fantastic 50+ Removed**
com.player.yeonhagoogokka 연하구곡 10+ Removed**