Beware of Trojan Virus in unofficial copies of Angry Birds Space on Android

Android users, please exercise extreme caution! According to both Rovio and SOPHOS, a Trojan Horse virus has been released on unofficial Android app stores. The Trojan has been disguised in Angry Birds Space, the newest installment in the Angry Birds franchise. According to SOPHOS, this virus will gain root access and push further malware onto the affected device, essentially rendering it under the control of evil malware producers.

Let us emphasize two things. Foremost, the official versions from the Android Market (Google Play) and the Amazon Appstore are 100% clean. Also, this is a good example of why all users — Android and otherwise — should be very careful when downloading any apps onto their devices, especially when using unofficial app stores. Just because the logo and publisher match, that doesn’t mean that the app is legit. Pay attention to the little things, such as app details, descriptions, and user reviews. Or, when all else fails, use the direct links that Rovio provides on their site. So long as there are people who get a thrill out of infecting computers and smartphones of strangers, smart users should be on-guard against them.

Happy (and safe) gaming to all!

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Category: Blog

Comments (140)

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

Lol.That is NOT good.

Rank: Champion with 3750 points
By Oobgular (@oobgular17)

How can they make a fake AB Space? is it really that real-looking? I didn’t even know you could get a virus on a smartphone…

Rank: Sling God with 26055 points
By sal9 (@sal9)

If it has a hard drive and an operating system, there is a virus somewhere for it.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 16435 points
By burbman (@burbman)

I am sure they just added their code to the real thing, then resold a bajillion copies of it. The user probably cannot tell the difference in the game play.

Rank: Flinger with 0 points
By stink_boy11 (@)

They can edit the app and copy a code from a virus and then add the code to the application

Rank: Master Slinger with 6960 points
By iamMighty (@iammighty)

This should be lesson for people who don’t spend a little for a whole lot of goodness.

Rank: Sling God with 26055 points
By sal9 (@sal9)

I second that. :P

Rank: Pig Leader with 11630 points
By kevin (@kcox2116)

really, how much are they saving,99 cents?

Rank: Champion with 3295 points
By Laurence (@laurence)

Yep, definitely agree – what’s the point on risking your phone for less than $1! Lol :)

Rank: Master Slinger with 7205 points
By TruckDriver (@truckdriver)

Especially on a site that may be illegally reselling Rovio software. Easily avoided by downloading from an official source.

If you come across any such sites, you should inform Rovio, should legal action to protect their copyrights be necessary.

Rank: Boss Hog with 13330 points
By kathi17 (@kathi17)

I agree too.

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

I agree.

Rank: Master Slinger with 6700 points
By wanda (@wanda)

I agree, it’s worth a buck or even 3-Kindle Fire version- to be certain your pricey device stays safe. Just a reminder, you can download a security app for your android device, I use Lookout, but there are others, and that will help protect you.

Rank: Explosive with 2325 points
By MUFC (@mufc)

Good that I do have the official version!

Rank: Master Slinger with 5690 points
By Peatree2 (@peatree2)

Are you sure about that… :)

Rank: Explosive with 2325 points
By MUFC (@mufc)

Yes, I am sure! I have the Android Market/Google Play version! :)

By Bombbird

The internet got dangerous today, so better use official downloads…or you wonder why
you have 1000$ less on your conto or you get tons of Malware.

Rank: Master Slinger with 5690 points
By Peatree2 (@peatree2)

Thanks for informing us about this.

Rank: DaBomb with 260 points
By leotehzw (@leotehzw)

yeah, by the way when was the virus version uploaded? :D

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Several days ago.

Rank: DaBomb with 260 points
By leotehzw (@leotehzw)

date please… :D

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

I don’t know. I don’t have an Android device. I just did a little research so I could inform the community. Feel free to do yur own investigation.

Rank: DaBomb with 260 points
By leotehzw (@leotehzw)

thnx … :D

Rank: Deputized with 115 points
By HeadCracker (@headcracker)

People with nothing better than to infect people’s phones by screwing with a 99 cent game…get a life!

Rank: Master Slinger with 5690 points
By Peatree2 (@peatree2)

Yeah, playing Angry Birds is a much better use of your time. :)

Rank: Master Slinger with 5530 points
By teogeo (@teogeo)

You mean nothing better than making huge loads of money through malware? Don’t judge so easily their motivatios, it’s not like they do it for fun (as maybe in the 90s).

Rank: Master Slinger with 7205 points
By TruckDriver (@truckdriver)

Theft is still theft, and should never be tolerated, regardless of motivation.

Rank: Fling King with 4870 points
By Harrystar6 (@harrystar6)

I agree

Rank: Fling King with 4870 points
By Harrystar6 (@harrystar6)

@HeadCracker I agree

Rank: Fling King with 4870 points
By Harrystar6 (@harrystar6)

I found an app coping Angry Birds Space it’s called Angry Ninja Space

Rank: Master Slinger with 5690 points
By Peatree2 (@peatree2)

Oh, there are soooo so many apps that copy Angry Birds…

Rank: Fling King with 4870 points
By Harrystar6 (@harrystar6)

i told Rovio about it

Rank: Slinger with 1065 points
By OneBadPiggie (@onebadpiggie)

Angry Ninja Space? Really?

Rank: Shooter with 815 points
By mightybrotherrainbowbird1598 (@mightybrotherrainbowbird1598)

Angry ninja space?!,What a strange name…You must throw ninjas on space or what?!

Rank: Slinger with 1065 points
By OneBadPiggie (@onebadpiggie)

Yes…
Angry Ninja Space does sound strange.

Rank: Explosive with 2300 points
By AngryBirdsFanGuy438 (@angrybirdsfanguy438)

They ripped of everything from images to the AB font.

Rank: Explosive with 2300 points
By AngryBirdsFanGuy438 (@angrybirdsfanguy438)

Here’s some samples
Here’s one
Here’s another

Rank: Fling King with 4870 points
By Harrystar6 (@harrystar6)

Its a complete rip off

Rank: Slinger with 1065 points
By OneBadPiggie (@onebadpiggie)

Angry Ninja Space looks weird.

Rank: Explosive with 2300 points
By AngryBirdsFanGuy438 (@angrybirdsfanguy438)

And the main character is some purple gopher or something…

Rank: Explosive with 2415 points
By Legosponge2015 (@legosponge2015)

I saw that!

Rank: Shooter with 980 points
By Very Angry At This Site (@angry-artist)

i’m sorry but we all need to…

Rank: Slinger with 1065 points
By OneBadPiggie (@onebadpiggie)

This creeps me out…

Rank: Flinger with 0 points
By Bioshroom (@)

….those hackers…. why would they do such a thing? It creeps me out too.
I’m glad I use Chrome… but someone could easily copy AB Chrome too!

Rank: Explosive with 2300 points
By AngryBirdsFanGuy438 (@angrybirdsfanguy438)

To steal information, and get money. The world is full of greedy dirtbags like the guys that made this version of the game.

By bombirdar guy 345

now,that i agree on. they’re doing that with everyday products. OIL,groceries,as well as the McDonalds’ scam.by the way, their nuggets are only 50% chicken. the rest is silicone and other fillings. try taking wendys/chick-fil-a’s nuggets and tear it in half. my point is, there are ABSOLUTELY NO FIBERS IN MCD’S NUGGETS!!!!

Rank: Pig Leader with 10760 points
By PdB (@playdbird)

Maybe they re-use old angry birds for their nuggets – maybe this is where the corpse sprites end up – at McD’s… j/k.

Rank: Explosive with 2300 points
By AngryBirdsFanGuy438 (@angrybirdsfanguy438)

McNuggets are good, and I really think that’s just internet speculation. Although I do agree that Wendy’s and Chick-Fil-A’s nuggets are better by far. By the way, am I the only one that thinks AB Happy Meal toys would go over great? They could be miniature versions of AB plush!

Rank: Flinger with 0 points
By Bioshroom (@)

@angrybirdsfanguy438 My gosh. That’s an epic idea.
There could actually be mini versions of the plush AND maybe some of the collectible figures, except in limited edition AB Space design!

Rank: Flinger with 0 points
By Bioshroom (@)

I still wonder:
How did the subject change from Pirated and Hacked games to Mcdonald’s Toys?!?

Rank: Fling King with 4870 points
By Harrystar6 (@harrystar6)

That’s not good at all

Rank: Deputized with 180 points
By maryspitfire (@maryspitfire)

I had called my cellphone provider about this, and i went through the market, they said as long as you got it through the market, i’m safe.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Yes, the Android Market version is safe.

Rank: Shooter with 980 points
By Very Angry At This Site (@angry-artist)

wow that pig is very convincing!

Rank: Master Slinger with 6760 points
By username12345 (@blahalb09)

Really? That pig looks nothing like a bird at all.

Rank: DaBomb with 260 points
By leotehzw (@leotehzw)

too big mouth…,eyebrows too close to mouth…,most obvious…the eyes….

Rank: Shooter with 980 points
By Very Angry At This Site (@angry-artist)

well i was just kidding but if thats what you think

Rank: Gold Flinger with 7660 points
By BBinMiami (@bbinmiami)

In case anyone cares(this has nothing to do with the above),
An old survey in Rovio.com,there was a poll that asked who was your favorite birds from the original flock(R,B,Y,Bl,W)And the yellow bird is the favorite!

Rank: Explosive with 2300 points
By AngryBirdsFanGuy438 (@angrybirdsfanguy438)

Which is black and which is blue? Both start with bl.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 7660 points
By BBinMiami (@bbinmiami)

1.B is blue.
2.Bl is black.
3.I said the birds in the order of which they are found or unlocked,and you find blue before black.

Rank: Champion with 3175 points
By Han_Solo1617 (@enrico-carl-andrei)

I thought your favorite is Terence.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 7660 points
By BBinMiami (@bbinmiami)

it is,but that survey is based on the old flock.

By BERTIE_1254

{post removed}

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Please, no nonsense like that. Normal sentences are fine.

Rank: Shooter with 980 points
By Very Angry At This Site (@angry-artist)

what did he put?
is someone removing my comments? this is like the fifth one that has disapeared!

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Doesn’t matter what he put.

Rank: Shooter with 980 points
By Very Angry At This Site (@angry-artist)

just wondering, is it possible for that to happen without you taking it off?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

For what to happen?

Rank: Master Slinger with 5510 points
By pianistrevor (@tnatiuk17piano)

Yikes! I have stopped playing on my Droid phone luckily. I switched to the iOS version for the Space Eagle and also it is much faster on the iPad. Besides, I didn’t even get that far!

Rank: Master Slinger with 5510 points
By pianistrevor (@tnatiuk17piano)

Stopped playing space, that is.

Rank: Explosive with 2070 points
By darthvader (@orangebird09)

The pigs are at it again!

By Birdfan1223

Pig hackers!! Aaaaaah!

Rank: Flinger with 0 points
By Bioshroom (@)

I just realized… this warning was posted on FRIDAY THE 13TH!

Rank: Slinger with 1215 points
By Angry_BrownBird (@supermad_bluebird)

uh oh.

Rank: Fling King with 4185 points
By RedBirdsBrother (@redbirdsbrother)

Oh no, Jason made the virus! ( Jason is a guy from the movie Friday the 13th.)

Rank: Explosive with 2070 points
By darthvader (@orangebird09)

If Seasons made this update hahahaha!

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

That is Scary!!!

Rank: Slinger with 1065 points
By OneBadPiggie (@onebadpiggie)

Fryday the 13th!

By Birdfan1223

That would be an unlucky day for the pigs

Rank: Champion with 3640 points
By CmdrBond (@cmdrbond)

Well in some respects I am surprised it has taken this long – AB has long been one of the most downloaded apps, so was bound to be a prime target.

But also, as said above – what is the sense getting infected for the sake of avoiding $1.

I understand the reason some software is pirated – this does not mean I agree with it though – but there is a difference between pirating $1 software and $1000.

Rank: DaBomb with 355 points
By Kun Parekh (@kun-parekh)

I usually download apks from 3rd party sites on the internet, but thank god I downloaded AB Space from Google Play Store.

Rank: DaBomb with 260 points
By Pacharapol9 (@pacharapol9)

I downloaded from google play :)

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

Ok it is Easter.Still no update on Angry Birds Seasons.What is going on man.

Rank: Pig Leader with 10760 points
By PdB (@playdbird)

Safe to say nothing is coming.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

There was an update 4 weeks ago.

Rank: Shooter with 875 points
By Shivkumar (@shivkumar)

Has anyone seen their google plus page
By the way, Slim do you have a Google plus Account

By Dorito

Can someone please tell me how to get AB Space on Google Play from my PC?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

I think some wires are crossed. The Google Play version is for Android devices. For the PC version, you need to go to download.angrybirds.com.

Rank: DaBomb with 365 points
By Aeryk17aj (@aeryk17aj)

he meant installing Android apps from the PC while your android phone is linked or wireless linked (i think) so it goes from: Google Play -> PC -> Android

By Dorito

No I mean what Slim is talking about. So it is impossible?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

I’m not familiar with the concept, but my guess is impossible.

Rank: Explosive with 2325 points
By MUFC (@mufc)

Dorito, you can use a app who is called BlueStacks. Download BlueStacks on your PC and so you can play ABoS on Google Play from your PC! :)

By Dorito

Whoa! Is it free?

Rank: Out of this World with 2605 points
By mariokart.cruz (@mariokart-cruz)

Yup. Bluestacks is free. You can sync the apps you have from your phone/tablet to your PC. Do a simple Google search.

Rank: Explosive with 2070 points
By darthvader (@orangebird09)

I see your going to make some changes here in this website. Very Cool!

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

What if it was 4 weeks ago.That update is geting old.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

How often do you expect Seasons to update? It’s typically updated bimonthly.

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

Well from what I saw angry birds seasons is geting updated on the 5 week.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 8570 points
By Kartflyer (@kartflyer)

What did you see? Please share! :)

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Can you supply any sources? Also, please use the “Reply” buttons to keep threads intact.

Rank: Champion with 3640 points
By CmdrBond (@cmdrbond)

Tried replying to this earlier – but for some reason it didn’t show up.

Anyway

Trick or Treat – October 21st, 2010
Season’s Greedings – December 1st, 2010
Hogs and Kisses – February 7th, 2011
Go Green, Get Lucky – March 10th, 2011
Easter Eggs – April 18th, 2011
Summer Pignic – June 21st, 2011
Moon Festival – September 1st, 2011
Ham’o’ween – October 21st, 2011
Wreck the Halls – December 1st, 2011
Year of the Dragon – January 19th, 2012
Cherry Blossom – March 7th, 2012

The average gap is about 5 1/2 weeks, but the shortest gap between updates was 4 1/2 weeks and the longest 10 1/3 weeks – this is not including bug fix updates (if there have been any)

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

I ment from what I tracked down and I just forgor about the reply buttons and this conversacion is getting very long so I just want to say that Angry Birds Seasons needs to have an update.hristaki032 over,under and out.

Rank: Master Slinger with 6760 points
By username12345 (@blahalb09)

It has been about 5 1/2 weeks so there may be an update soon. Maybe Earth Day?

Rank: Champion with 3640 points
By CmdrBond (@cmdrbond)

Personally I doubt there will be an update until the summer.

So far we have had

2010 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _ D
2011 _ F M A _ J _ _ S O _ D
2012 J _ M _

So I think something around mid-summer, 4th July will be our next instalment.

Rank: Champion with 3420 points
By Dorito (@dorito)

Maybe something like a second Summer Pignic theme. I hope it’s a 4th of July update!

Rank: Champion with 3640 points
By CmdrBond (@cmdrbond)

Having been talking in the forums, it seems the olympics is an obvious choice, but that would mean something else in the mean time as they are 14 weeks away.

Would make sense for them to do something with the Olympics though, as Samsung are the official mobile phone partner and they have already partnered with them over space,

Rank: DaBomb with 350 points
By Imaginary Bird (@im_an_angry_-bird)

They should play Angry Birds instead of hacking it.

Rank: Shooter with 980 points
By Very Angry At This Site (@angry-artist)

yeah like they’ll do that

Rank: Out of this World with 2980 points
By Gab196 (@gab196)

is it just on the Android game? or iOS has fake copies with virus, too?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

iOS doesn’t really have unofficial App Stores (with the exception of the Cydia Store, which is pretty safe), so iOS is clean at this time.

Rank: Out of this World with 2980 points
By Gab196 (@gab196)

I had that doubt because I’m going to use iOS soon and I wanted to be sure that I won’t be affected.

Rank: Flinger with 60 points
By Angrybirdarmy (@angrybirdarmy)

I agree and I have made a news update about it on 2 sites so more users can be warned. I hope that whoever is doing it gets caught soon because more people will get viruses and will have to pay a lot for the virus to be removed.

By Ilikegame

Angry Birds Facebook updated!!! (Not so much, just golden eggs)

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

There is a new update for angry birds original v2.1.1.Nothing new though just fixing the bugs.

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

Does anybody know when is the new update for Angry Birds Space going to come.Please anwser me.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

If we knew, we would post it.

Rank: Champion with 3295 points
By Laurence (@laurence)

Rovio doesn’t release dates in advance, unfortunately! :)

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

Well then I think the only thing we can do is wait.Still hope that it comes out by the end of the month.

Rank: Champion with 3420 points
By Dorito (@dorito)

Wow, it’s so quiet in the Angry Birds world…nothing new for a while now!

Rank: Champion with 3750 points
By Oobgular (@oobgular17)

Yeah, I wonder if there is any news on Fry me to the moon. I can barely even play the game with it crashing every 30 seconds…

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