Kaspersky Lab has detected first malicious program classified as a Trojan-SMS for smartphones running on Google’s Android operating system. The Trojan named Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a has already infected a number of mobile devices.The new malicious program penetrates smartphones running Android in the guise of a harmless media player application. Users are prompted to install a file of just over 13 KB with the standard Android extension .APK. Once installed on the phone, the Trojan uses the system to begin sending SMSes to premium rate numbers without the owner’s knowledge or consent, resulting in money passing from a user’s account to that of the cybercriminals.
The Trojan-SMS category is currently the most widespread class of malware for mobile phones, but Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a is the first to specifically target the Android platform. It should be noted that there have already been isolated cases of devices running Android being infected with spyware. The first such program appeared in 2009.
Kaspersky Lab recommends that users pay close attention to the services that an application requests access to when it is being installed. That includes access to premium rate services that charge to send SMSes and make calls. When a user agrees to these functions during the installation of an application, the smartphone may then be able to make calls and send SMSes without further authorization.