The recognition of low cost messaging service Whatsapp is so intense that over 1,000,000 folks have downloaded a pretend replace on it from Google Play.

Reddit person named E_x_Lnc first seen the extraordinarily suspicious app out there for obtain underneath the title “Replace WhatsApp Messenger,” in line with Mashable. To be honest, the pretend is extraordinarily convincing. It was even initially listed as being bought by WhatsApp Inc.

Redditors helped work out that the phony Developer title was made by utilizing a particular unicode character referred to as a “Area.” It’s not precisely one thing the typical person can verify whereas downloading apps, nevertheless it additionally fooled Google Play. Reddit person megared17 found and took a screenshot of the refined distinction.

RealFake

Then /u/dextersgenius analyzed what this malicious app is attempting to do; principally, to infiltrate your telephone, spam you with advertisements, and make it undetectable to delete:

I’ve additionally put in the app and decompiled it. The app itself has minimal permissions (web entry) nevertheless it’s principally an ad-loaded wrapper which has some code to obtain a second apk, additionally referred to as “whatsapp.apk”

The app additionally tries to cover itself by not having a title and having a clean icon.

It seems that somebody at Google Play has seen the rip-off (or the reddit thread), and the Developer is now listed as Dwell Replace Apps.

Nonetheless, people have been fast to level out that that is an especially frequent drawback that Google Play hasn’t found an answer to.

And there will likely be loads of individuals who hit obtain with out even double-checking the Developer title both. It’s a scary world on the market, people. In the event you’re not inclined to double verify an app earlier than downloading, it’s possible you’ll need to strive common texting.