Cash-guzzling Android SMS Trojan on the prowl

Security specialists Kapersky Labs have uncovered a new mobile phone virus that could potentially cost Android users a lot of money.

The SMS Trojan is found disguised within an unnamed media player app. The questionable file, Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a, then sends out premium rate text messages, quickly sky-rocketing the handset owner’s bills.

Though the virus at the moment appears contained to just handsets found in Russia, Google have still issued a statement urging caution on behalf of their users.

“Our application permissions model protects against this type of threat. When installing an application, users see a screen that explains clearly what information and system resources the application has permission to access, such as a user’s phone number or sending an SMS,” reads the Google statement.

“Users must explicitly approve this access in order to continue with the installation, and they may uninstall applications at any time. We consistently advise users to only install apps they trust. In particular, users should exercise caution when installing applications outside of Android Market.”

Has the virus affected your Android handset? If so, let us know the problems it caused in the comments section below.