Stop downloading Super Mario Run clones on Android

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Do you want malware? Because sideloading Super Mario Run APKs on your Android phone is how you get malware. Well, one of the ways you can get malware at least. There’s no denying that Super Mario Run has been hugely successful for Nintendo since its release on iOS recently. Over 40 million downloads on iOS in under a week prove that people are excited about Nintendo games on their mobile devices. Sure, some still scoff at the $10 price tag to unlock the full game, or sneer at the always-connected policy it employs, but iOS users are downloading the game like crazy and Android users are… we’ll just say jealous.

UPDATE: 12/29/2016 – You can pre-register on Google Play for the Android version of Super Mario Run now! Original article continues below.

I’m an Android user myself, and I understand the frustration when apps or games hit iOS first. It’s been happening forever and isn’t likely to change anytime soon. Most everything ends up coming to Android eventually, so patience is usually rewarded. There are those, however, who prey on impatience and release APKs into the wild for nefarious purposes. Super Mario Run Android APKs are the malware flavor of the month.

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Some of these malicious apps can even take full control of your Android device, as the apps request privileges to edit, read, receive and send text messages, take photos and record videos and track your location using GPS.

However, one of the apps titled “Super Mario” creates additional icons, displays pop-up and banner ads, installs other malicious apps onto victim’s smartphone, and performs other intrusive activities without any users interaction, according to Tokyo-based Trend Micro antivirus firm, which detected malicious Super Mario apps 90,000 times this year.

Another app, also titled “Super Mario” and discovered by the security firm, prompts users first to install an app called 9Apps, which then asks for more permissions, including recording audio, reading modifying the calendar and even access to complete SD-card.

Most of these malware apps will direct you to malicious sites, adult sites (which are likely also malicious), or other sites that you really shouldn’t be visiting.

Look, I know it stinks seeing fun games on other platforms that you’d really like to play, but you’re not doing yourself any favors by infecting yourself with malware. Your best bet is to either wait for the official Android release, switch to iOS if playing a game early is really that important to you, or maybe just pick up a used iOS device somewhere on the cheap to get your fix without opening yourself up to problems. Just because you can sideload apps to your Android device doesn’t mean that you should sideload apps to your Android device.

[button link=”http://thehackernews.com/2016/12/super-mario-run-android-apk.html” icon=”fa-external-link” side=”left” target=”blank” color=”285b5e” textcolor=”ffffff”]Source: The Hacker News[/button]

Last Updated on February 3, 2017.

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