Adware discovered on dozens of no-name Android phones

Via numerous e-commerce websites as well as marketplaces like eBay and AliExpress you can easily find smartphones that are significantly cheaper than what you'd pay for a phone with similar specifications from a well-known brand. A lot of Chinese brands have captured a widely following as they deliver a very good price/performance ratio, but unfortunately not all of them can be trusted.

A new report by anti-virus firm Doctor Web claims they discovered 26 cheap phones that come pre-loaded with a downloader named Android.DownLoader.473.origin. This piece of software can download benign applications but also malicious and unwanted ones, including adware. The company also discovered another preinstalled downloader dubbed Android.Sprovider.7, this one has the ability to make phone calls to certain numbers and to show ads on top of apps.

"It is known that cybercriminals generate their income by increasing application download statistics and by distributing advertising software," the security researchers wrote. "Therefore, Android.DownLoader.473.origin and Android.Sprovider.7 were incorporated into Android firmware because dishonest outsources who took part in creation of Android system images decided to make money on users."

Here's an overview of affected smartphones. Probably the biggest surprise are the two Lenovo devices on the list, these contained the Android.Sprovider.7 trojan. A quick Google search of various models mostly turned up Russian sites so the odds of coming across these phones in other geographies are pretty low.

MegaFon Login 4 LTE

Irbis TZ85

Irbis TX97

Irbis TZ43

Bravis NB85

Bravis NB105

SUPRA M72KG

SUPRA M729G

SUPRA V2N10

Pixus Touch 7.85 3G

Itell K3300

General Satellite GS700

Digma Plane 9.7 3G

Nomi C07000

Prestigio MultiPad Wize 3021 3G

Prestigio MultiPad PMT5001 3G

Optima 10.1 3G TT1040MG

Marshal ME-711

7 MID

Explay Imperium 8

Perfeo 9032_3G

Ritmix RMD-1121

Oysters T72HM 3G

Irbis tz70

Irbis tz56

Jeka JK103

Lenovo A319

Lenovo A6000

Source: ARS Technica