Hackers are sneaking malware on to the Google Play Store — how to stay safe

A picture of a skull and bones on a smartphone depicting malware

Hackers have come up with yet another way to get around Google’s defenses in order to get their malware-filled apps on the Google Play Store.

According to a new report from the cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, malicious loader programs are being sold on dark web marketplaces, priced from $2,000 all the way up to $20,000. These programs enable hackers to hide malware in legitimate apps in such a way that prevents Google from detecting it.