Malware Campaigns Are Riding the ‘Fortnite’ Wave, with Fake Android Apps Spreading the Infection

It has become a familiar story with the internet. If something is hugely popular, malicious individuals or groups will inevitably try to take advantage of it to the detriment of others. This is the case with “Fortnite Battle Royale,” with numerous fake Android apps of the game spreading malware across the web.

Researchers at Malwarebytes discovered this issue, noting in its report that some of the apps look so realistic they hardly bear any difference from the iOS version of the game. It’s worth pointing out that while Epic Games is working on creating an Android version of its hyper-popular game, it hasn’t been released yet.

“To make the app look legit, it starts with a realistic-looking icon. As a matter of fact, it’s so realistic that some may recognize it from the Apple iOS version. By stealing the icon directly from Apple, how could it not look real?” the report reads.

It’s important to stress that none of these infected apps have managed to get past the security screening of Google’ Play Store, the BBC notes. These apps can be found in other parts of the web, however, with a simple search on Google being sufficient to open the lid on Pandora’s Box.

The really unfortunate aspect of this development is that downloading the app doesn’t even allow the victims to play the game. They are simply asked to download a variety of other apps with the promise that doing so will unlock the fake “Fortnite” game. Every time they do so, the perpetrators get paid.

Suffice it to say, there is nothing good to be gained from being impatient and trying to download the unofficial versions of any game. Players on iOS devices are currently having a blast with “Fortnite Battle Royale” without worry that they might infect their gadgets. The Android version of the title will be released soon, so it’s better to wait until then.