Fake ‘Pokémon GO’ App Locks Cell Phones & Secretly Clicks Online Ads

If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of the millions of players already addicted to the newest mobile craze, which is why you should be aware of the fake Pokémon GO apps that have been lurking on Google Play.

Slovakia-based IT security company ESET discovered Pokemon GO Ultimate in the Google Play Store this week, according to Computer World. However, users were immediately aware that the app was a fraud after downloading it to their device. It appeared on phones as an app called PI Network, and froze the phone’s display on a Pokémon GO image when launched.

The freeze forced the user to restart the phone, but although the app seemed to disappear afterwards, it was actually running in the background and accessing the phone’s browser to click on porn ads. The ad clicks translated to revenue for the fake Pokémon GO app’s developers.

ESET said that users who have accidentally downloaded Pokémon GO Ultimate need only go into their phone’s app settings and perform a manual uninstall.

Google removed the fake Pokémon GO app once it was discovered, although between 500 and 1,000 users had already downloaded it.

This isn’t the first instance of malicious activity related to Pokémon GO. Hackers are taking advantage of the fact that the official Pokémon GO game still hasn’t launched in several countries overseas. This makes eager potential players more vulnerable to downloading malware-infected apps.

As the Inquisitr previously reported, a “backdoor hack” related to Pokémon GO was discovered in Android devices earlier this month.

Android application package (APK) files with third-party versions of Nintendo’s mobile game have been circulating — luring people who don’t have access to the official game yet — and those files are often infected with malware. One such APK contains DroidJack, which gives a hacker remote access to the device the APK is installed on.

In addition to the standard permissions that Pokémon GO requests when downloaded, the malicious APK also prompts players for unnecessary access like the ability to record audio, modify contacts, and place phone calls.

Computer World reports that security firms have found dozens of fake Pokémon GO apps, as well as apps that claim to relate to the game — claiming to offer tips, tricks, and the like. Some malware may even be sneaky enough to collect contact information and social media credentials from players’ phones.

“Scareware” is also common with these fake Pokémon GO apps. The malware causes fake popups to appear, which attempt to convince users that their device has been infected by a virus. The popup includes information promising to help the user remove the virus, but it can lead to scams designed to take money from them.

Pokémon GO, although wildly successful with players so far, has been plagued with problems since its debut.

The onslaught of downloads quickly caused crashes initially, although Niantic has since rectified the problem. Authorities have also become concerned for public safety, since the game’s insistence that players physically go outside and hunt Pokémon has caused accidents and prompted thieves to take advantage.

However, TechCrunch reports that Pokémon GO has quickly become competition for even social networking websites. It has overtaken Twitter in terms of active users on a daily basis (21 million recorded on July 11 alone) and has more installs than the infamous dating app Tinder.

What's next for #PokemonGo? https://t.co/XRdU60qQnc pic.twitter.com/ppCrq6SUXY

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) July 15, 2016

Trends show that Pokémon GO players spend an average of 33 minutes in the app, compared to just 22 minutes on Facebook. Snapchat and Twitter fall in third and fourth place. It still has competition with other mobile games, though; Game of War‘s daily usage average is about two hours, and Candy Crush boasts 43 minutes.

Pokémon GO‘s peak daily active users has it well in the running to become the biggest mobile game in U.S. history.

That’s all the more reason to watch out for these fake Pokémon GO apps and make sure you play as safely as possible.

[Photo by Alan Diaz/AP Images]