Netflix app hit with Trojan virus that targets Android devices

Even though the level of seriousness is not very high, Symantec is warning Android users of a new Trojan virus that is tricking users into believing they are using the Netflix app when they are not.  The Trojan is acting just like any other, where all information that is entered is stolen and by the time the user figures it out the information is already gone and the damage is done.  Netflix rolled out its mobile app in phases and that proved to be the perfect time for hackers to release the virus.

The malware on the phone, which is called Android.Fakeneflic is classified as “very low” by Symantec, but that does not mean you should not worry about it.  The basic premise is to steal your Netflix account information and from there it will be used in any number of ways, but none of them are good.  The Netflix app was rolled out starting in September and was first to hit only 5 handsets.  The product manager at Netflix, Roma De said that, “Android’s rapid adoption and evolution made it challenging to build a streaming video application because there just isn’t a digital rights management (DRM) standard for secure, streaming playback that Netflix can adhere to for rolling out its application to every Android phone.”

Experts say that the Trojan requires more than one step in the authentication process, which is likely a splash screen followed by a login screen and that is very similar to the Netflix process.  The customers’ information is then posted to a server, which is reportedly offline currently.  Obviously it goes without saying that you should not download any Netflix app that is not “vetted” or marked as completely safe through the Android Marketplace.  If you have any doubt that you have to wrong app, you should just stop the download or delete it before it’s on your phone for too long.

The Android Marketplace has been in the news recently for the amount of Malware that is attached to apps that can be downloaded to customer smartphones.  None of the malware cases were ever reported as serious, but it appears that Google has done very little to keep malware out of the marketplace.  Tablets and smartphones are quickly  becoming the new place for a hacker to release malware and viruses to the masses.