Hackers are always looking for new and novel ways to get their malicious apps onto your smartphone, from infiltrating legitimate app stores to tricking you into sideloading them. The FBI is well aware of their tactics, however, which is why the government agency has issued a warning on a new technique currently being used by cybercriminals to do just that.
As reported by Phone Arena, hackers have begun embedding malicious code into beta versions of popular apps in an effort to drain the bank accounts of unsuspecting users. Unlike apps in official app stores which go through rigorous testing, beta apps aren’t typically subject to the security reviews that Google puts the other apps in the Play Store through.
