Game Over: App Injection is Not Safe for Mobile Gamers
Mobile gaming continues to explode, with revenue projected to hit $136 billion by 2025. As the stakes rise, so too do the threats to our gaming apps, accounts, and devices. App injection poses one insidious danger all gamers should know about. No, app injection is not safe in the slightest.
Gotta Catch ‘Em All…And Infect ‘Em? What is App Injection
App injection inserts fraudulent activity into legitimate apps to earn payouts from ad networks illicitly. Cybercriminals install malware; when you go to download a new game, the malware hijacks the installation to claim it was the source.
This Google study found app injection fraud grew from 6.5% of installs in early 2018 to over 15% by 2019:
| Year | App Injection % |
| Early 2018 | 6.5% |
| 2019 | Over 15% |
The thieves never directly interacted with the app. But they still get paid for the "install", siphoning revenues from legit publishers and draining your data.
Fatality – App Injection Opens Doors to Severe Threats
The malware lodged via app injection can wreak havoc:
- Spying on texts, locations, account info and gaming activity
- Enabling brute force credential attacks
- Potentially holding your gaming profiles ransom
- Conscripting your device into a zombie botnet army
Lookout analyzed 70 million mobile devices last year. Devices affected by app injection showed double the malware infection rates on average across gaming, shopping, social, finance, and other apps:
| App Injection Devices | Non-Injection Devices | |
| Malware Infection Rate | 15% | 7% |
App injection provides the initial foothold for further exploitation. Like when Bowser keeps finding all the star power-ups before you.
You Shall Not Pass! Protecting Your Gaming Profiles
Gamers must remain vigilant against app injection threats:
- Vet app sources: Only install from official stores like Play Store and App Store.
- Use gaming-focused mobile security: Look for security tools purpose-built to protect gaming data.
- Monitor for abnormalities: Strange activity with data or battery could indicate malware.
- Isolate gaming profiles: Don‘t reuse credentials across gaming and sensitive finance/work apps.
- Remain skeptical: Ignore outlandish claims around gaming mods, free premium currency offers and such.
Stay safe on the digital battlefield! App injection fuels rising gaming fraud but awareness and caution beat the bandits.
