Pre-installed Malware Plagues Millions of Android Phones
Millions of affordable Android phones come with numerous pre-installed apps, and hackers only need to subvert one. Researchers at Trend Micro are sounding the alarm about the growing trend of Android devices that come with malicious software pre-installed. While you can easily remove an app you've downloaded from the Play Store, addressing malware embedded in system apps or device firmware is a significantly more challenging task. Google has been aware of pre-installed Android malware for years, but it cannot easily solve the problem due to its limited control over the complex OEM Android supply chain.