10 million

How many times the scam Android app ‘Updates for Samsung’ was installed over six years

More than 10 million people have been tricked into installing a scam app that claims to speed up Android updates on Samsung phones and tablets.

The app, called ‘Updates for Samsung’ (see screenshot), had been available on the Google Play Store for six years. It sent users to a website crammed with adverts and genuine updates for Samsung devices, but limits their speed

to just 56Kbps.

Many customers complained that at 56Kbps updates took so long they’d crash or be timed out. The app encourages frustrated users to upgrade to the ‘Premium’ version for $34.99 to lift the speed restriction.

This broke Google’s rules, which forces apps to use the payment system provided by the Play Store, not independent methods that are less secure. Sending money to the app would have risked it being intercepted by hackers. It’s not known how much money the scammers made.

The app, which is not affiliated with Samsung, exploits the frustration of many Android users who have to wait months for the latest version of the operating system to arrive on their device. It was discovered by Aleksejs Kuprins from Danish security firm CSIS when he searched for ‘update’ on the Play Store, believing it was likely to produce scam or malicious apps.

Google has now “suspended” the app, saying its policy forbids apps “that are deceptive, malicious, or intended to abuse or misuse any network, device, or personal data”.

The app had over 86,000 reviews, with an average rating of four stars, but it’s likely most of these were fake.