‘Gooligan’

How does it infect your phone?

In the vast majority of cases the researchers were finding that users would try and download apps through a third-party app store. 

This would be an alternative to the Google Play store that still offers what appear to be legitimately approved Android apps. The virus is then hidden within some of these apps and silently installed on the phone along with the app.

What does it do?

Once on the smartphone, the virus downloads a new rootkit which in effect gives the hacker access to the phone’s Google account.

As well as having access to everything that’s associated with the Google Account it also gives the hacker the ability to post fake reviews on apps thus artificially raising their reputation.

Finally they’ve also seen instances where the hackers have downloaded adware down onto the device which can then generate illegal revenue.

How can you protect yourself?

The virus only affects smartphones running Android 4 (Jelly Bean, KitKat) and 5 (Lollipop) so the best advice at the moment is to update your phone to the latest possible version.

Another easy way to protect yourself is to only download apps from Google Play directly. Also make sure that you’re only download apps from companies and brands that you know well and trust e.g. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prism etc.