Advertisement Until recently, Barcode Scanner was a straightforward application that provided users with a basic QR code reader and barcode generator, useful for things like making purchases and redeeming discounts.The app, which has been around since at least 2017, is owned by developer Lavabird Ldt., and claims to have over 10 million downloads, the Wayback Machine shows.However, a rash of malicious activity was recently traced back to the app.
Barcode Scanner Qr Code Reader And App Code Scanner WasUsers began noticing something weird going on with their phones: their default browsers kept getting hijacked and redirected to random advertisements, seemingly out of nowhere. For a number of people, it wasnt clear what was causing the disruptionsas many hadnt recently downloaded any apps. Researchers with Malwarebytes have verified the scanner is the culprit, releasing a new report that shows it delivered the ad-producing malware onto users phones, probably via a December update. Barcode Scanner Qr Code Reader And App Free Month ParamountScreenshot: Lucas Ropek: Wayback MachineGoogle Play GO Media may get a commission Click To Claim Your Free Month Paramount - 30-Day Trial Amazon Researchers distinguish Barcodes ad-pushing malware from basic a d SDKsprograms used by publishers to launch in-app advertising for monetization purposesclaiming that this was not the case with Barcode Scanner. They write: It is frightening that with one update an app can turn malicious while going under the radar of Google Play Protect. It is baffling to me that an app developer with a popular app would turn it into malware. Was this the scheme all along, to have an app lie dormant, waiting to strike after it reaches popularity I guess we will never know. Advertisement While Google has yanked Barcode Scanner from its app store, it is not gone from affected devices. Barcode Scanner Qr Code Reader And App Install It FromUsers of the app will still have to manually uninstall it from their phones. Barcode Scanners owner, Lavabird Ltd., was incorporated in 2020 and is registered at an address in London, according to available online records. Advertisement Gizmodo has reached out to Lavabird and will update if we hear back. Lucas Ropek Posts Twitter Staff writer at Gizmodo Share This Story Get our newsletter Subscribe DISCUSSION Ken.Moromisato 20821 4:33PM had it being a standard android camera feature wouldve helped a lot, and even then google lens only reads QR codes with internet available See all replies.
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