• Cryptocurrency
  • Earnings
  • Enterprise
  • About TechBooky
  • Submit Article
  • Advertise Here
  • Contact Us
TechBooky
  • African
  • AI
  • Metaverse
  • Gadgets
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • African
  • AI
  • Metaverse
  • Gadgets
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
TechBooky
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Home General App

SonicSpy: The Stealthy Surveillance Malware That Deceived the Google Play Store

Uloma Mary Omolaiye by Uloma Mary Omolaiye
August 14, 2017
in App, Security
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Malware, software engineered to harm or exploit its user, cleverly hidden behind seemingly benign functionalities, has once again reared its ugly head – this time infiltrating the much-trusted realm of Google’s Play Store. In a startling revelation, a surveillance malware recently masqueraded itself as a regular messaging app, unspooling its devious plots on unsuspecting users.

Security researchers from the prominent firm, Lookout, have identified an insidious family of smartphone applications, deliberately named SonicSpy. Fortune brought to light that at least three versions of this covert malware, capable of remotely commandeering infected phones, were successfully slipped onto Google’s Play Store.

The compromised apps are craftily designed to fool users into believing they are ordinary messaging tools. However, they hide an array of sinister capabilities including a stealth function to record audio covertly, snap photos, make outbound calls, send text messages to predetermined numbers, and extract critical details like call logs, contact lists, and information about Wi-Fi access points.

An Iraqi developer adeptly developed over a thousand such malicious messaging applications by weaving spyware into the publicly accessible source code for Telegram, a well-regarded messaging app. The apps were deployed behind innocuous sounding names like Soniac, Hulk Messenger, and Troy Chat. However, it’s unclear whether Google eliminated the apps or whether the schemers withdrew the apps themselves to escape detection, as reported by MobileMarketing.

Malware poses a perilous threat to every device—be it applied by criminals or utilized by government agencies. This malevolent software relentlessly targets computers worldwide, engendering an Internet environment that is not only less secure but also heavily infested with insidious infections, becoming increasingly challenging to eliminate. Given the ubiquity of the Internet and its deep integration into our daily lives, the potential for massive disruption due to a security lapse is alarming.

Back in April, Google unearthed the most damaging Android malware yet, the infamous brainchild of NSO group—an Israeli surveillance firm notorious for their deviously creative mobile spyware. This group hacked the iPhone with text messages just the previous year, which gained them unwelcome notoriety.

The rampant and intensifying use of spyware and malware is worryingly sophisticated. A case in point is ‘Judy’—a malware which was smuggled into the Google Play Store via a series of seemingly benign cooking and lifestyle games in May and managed to outfox Google’s screening process.

In light of this escalating threat, it’s imperative for security measures to be significantly reinforced to stand firm against these stealthy cyber-attacks. We must ensure the safety of all Internet users from the imminent danger that such sophisticated malware represents.

Related Posts:

  • Google-Play-Store-Download-Manager
    Google Play Adds Download History Manager
  • Sankt-petersburg,,Russia,,August,19,,2018:,Play,Store,Application,Icon,On
    Google Is Testing App Sync Feature Paired With…
  • Google-Play-Store
    Google Play Store Will Let You Download 2 Apps…
  • Google Is Developing The Play Store Security System To Purge Bots.
    Google Is Developing The Play Store Security System…
  • i11609
    System App Updates for Android Now Hidden on Google…
  • PC shipments Q2 IDC
    Donald Trump-owned Truth Social Gets Denied Entry On…
  • Amazon-Appstore-920×518
    Amazon Closes its Android App Store
  • Nord-VPN-1-980×653
    Google Play Launches VPN Verification Program

Discover more from TechBooky

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Tags: androidmalwareplay storeresearchersSonicSpy
Uloma Mary Omolaiye

Uloma Mary Omolaiye

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

Select Category

    Receive top tech news directly in your inbox

    subscription from
    Loading

    Freshly Squeezed

    • IBM Posts Strongest Revenue Growth in Decade on AI Mainframes July 23, 2025
    • Tesla Q2 Misses on Profit, But Musk Bets Big on Robotaxis and $25k Model 2 July 23, 2025
    • Alphabet Q2 Earnings hit $96B Revenue as AI Drives Growth July 23, 2025
    • iOS 26 Public Beta Delayed Despite our Earlier Report July 23, 2025
    • Apple Has Released the iOS 26 in Public Beta, Here’s How to Get It July 23, 2025
    • Apple Set to Release iOS 26 Public Beta: Here’s What to Know July 23, 2025

    Browse Archives

    July 2025
    MTWTFSS
     123456
    78910111213
    14151617181920
    21222324252627
    28293031 
    « Jun    

    Quick Links

    • About TechBooky
    • Advertise Here
    • Contact us
    • Submit Article
    • Privacy Policy
    Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Post Type Selectors
    • African
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Gadgets
    • Metaverse
    • Tips
    • About TechBooky
    • Advertise Here
    • Submit Article
    • Contact us

    © 2025 Designed By TechBooky Elite

    Discover more from TechBooky

    Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

    Continue reading

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.