Google removed the CamScanner application from the Play Store on Wednesday after it was discovered that it contained malicious software.
The app downloaded more than 100 million times on the Play Store, allowed you to take pictures of sheets of paper to automatically convert them to PDF files. With more than 1.8 million reviews, she was also highly rated.
Offered for several years, it is only recently that CamScanner has been infected with malware. This one would be introduced in a recent version of the application by means of a new advertising library which was integrated there.
It was a company research team specializing in computer systems security and Kapersky anti-virus designer who discovered that CamScanner contained a Trojan horse. It could remotely activate other malware in the application code.
In concrete terms, this meant that the latter displayed intrusive advertisements and entered users into subscription services without their knowledge.
What can be learned from this story is that any application – even if it comes from an official store, even if it has a good reputation, even if it has got millions of positive comments and even if it has a large pool users – can become malware overnight , Kapersky reminded in a blog post (New Window) .
Google usually checks apps on the Play Store to make sure they are safe, but the company says moderator work is never done because of the sheer volume of apps in their store.
Cyber security experts recommend on Twitter to uninstall CamScanner from your Android phone if you have downloaded it. Among other things, the OfficeLens application from Microsoft is an appropriate alternative.
The CamScanner development team has ensured on its website that a new version of the application will be available soon and will not contain malware.
The iOS version of CamScanner has not been affected by this malware and remains downloadable on the Apple App Store.
Mitch Evans is just getting his feet wet as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Spot and Android Authority. In regards to academics, Mitch earned a degree in business from Fordham University. Mitch has passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.
