Delete Barcode Scanner Now
Posted by AndroidAppsReview.com
There’s one thing about the Android universe that is the big negative to all the great positives we love. Simply put, it seems that apps are just not vetted as vigorously for malware as they could be.
Case in point is the app Barcode Scanner that has been pulled from Google Play. We don’t know if it started out that way, we suspect not, but it has been identified as the culprit for delivering malware onto millions of users’ phones via a recent update.
Nathan Collier from Malwarebytes has put this all together in an article that we encourage you to read. You can find it here. Essentially he claims that last December Malwarebytes was alerted to some bizarre ad activity that users were reporting. They were seeing ads pop up in their default browser without any activity on their part. Not a good sign.
Once the common denominator of a new download was eliminated, that left a possible nefarious update as the only logical alternative. It was then that the sharp nosed detectives were able to pin down what was going on.
Barcode Scanner did an update just prior to the first reports and, with that as one of the indicators, it was conclusively determined that, in fact, the Barcode Scanner December update was the delivery vehicle for the malware.
What’s so weird about this is that app was doing just fine as a valuable utility for over 10 million users since its introduction in 2017. Most developers would give their collective eye teeth for such a successful track record of downloads.
While many apps use ad-delivery add-ons to help monetize their work, this was not the case here. That’s like comparing a fast talking, but reasonably honest used car salesman to a shyster who is knowingly selling you a lemon. Their both annoying but one is flat out felonious.
Gizmodo is also keeping track of this developing story. From Gizmodo’s article about this:
“Barcode Scanner’s owner, Lavabird Ltd., was incorporated in 2020 and is registered at an address in London, according to available online records. The company’s director, Dmytro Kizema, resides in Ukraine.
Gizmodo has reached out to Lavabird and will update if we hear back.”
We’ll also track this story and let you know of any new developments. In the meantime, check your phone thoroughly and if you happen to find Barcode Scanner, delete it!
