Squid Game Fan? Beware Of This Insidious Malware On Google Play Store

With the “Squid Game” craze sweeping the globe, cyber criminals are scrambling to prey on unwitting fans of Netflix’s hyper-violent hit Korean series. The latest scam was discovered by a cybersecurity researcher, who discovered that an app for SG-themed wallpaper — available on the Google Play Store — was installing insidious malware onto people’s phones.

The allegedly sinister app, titled “Squid Game Wallpaper 4K HD,” was available alongside hundreds of other apps based on the smash-hit series. When the technological Trojan horse is downloaded, it infects Android devices with Joker malware, which allows hackers to sign you up for premium services from which they can profit.

The app, dubbed “Squid Wallpaper 4K HD,” was used to infect Android phones with the infamous Joker malware.

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Stefanko had tweeted that digital swindlers were using the app to conduct “malicious ad-fraud and/or unwanted SMS subscription actions,” implying that compromised devices could be bombarded with unwanted text-message advertisements.

The cybercrime fighter notified Google about the scheme, but it had already been downloaded 5,000 times by the time they deleted it.

Unfortunately, “Squid Game” fans who installed the app before it was removed from Google Play are still vulnerable to malware. Experts advise people to uninstall the app as soon as possible to eliminate the threat.

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In addition, the show’s negative impact may extend beyond the digital realm. According to psychologists, the dystopian series may impede young children’s “social and emotional development,” encouraging them to turn a blind eye — or even join in — when others are being attacked.

Earlier this month, a Belgian school issued a warning after receiving reports of students engaging in a dangerous “Squid Game”-inspired punching game.

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