What is Fleeceware?
| January 28, 2022 |
Fleeceware is a type of malware mobile application that overcharge users for basic app functionality often using Direct Carrier Billing and the charges appear directly on the carrier’s invoice. These applications, using Play Market policy loopholes, make it difficult to cancel the recurring charges and keep overcharging long after the applications have been deleted. According to ZDNet, as of 2020, over 600 million users installed Android ‘fleeceware’ apps from the Play Store. The term was first coined in 2019 by British researchers from the British based security software and hardware company Sophos.
How to avoid Fleeceware:
1. Download Apps from prominent developers only
2. Avoid using third-party app repositories and only use the Google Play Store and/or the App Store
3. Check your phone bill regularly
