Bad actors are abusing Google Play’s Early Access program to distribute deceptive Android apps that promise cash, rewards, casino wins, and premium content while evading public reviews and ratings. The activity overlaps with several Android threats, including Hagaseca, Mantax Otax, StreamRat, and GoldFactory’s use of the Gigabud trojan and Vwork to enable fraud and device compromise. #GooglePlay #EarlyAccess #ViceStreetsOpenWorld #Hagaseca #MantaxOtax #StreamRat #Gigabud #Vwork #GoldFactory
Keypoints
- Threat actors are using Google Play Early Access to push deceptive Android apps.
- The apps lure users with fake money, rewards, casino winnings, and premium content.
- Public reviews and star ratings are unavailable in Early Access, reducing trust signals.
- Bogus ads on TikTok and Facebook spread the apps, often using AI-generated celebrity deepfakes.
- Android malware families like Hagaseca, Mantax Otax, StreamRat, and Gigabud are also being used for fraud and data theft.
Read More: https://thehackernews.com/2026/09/google-play-early-access-abused-to-push.html