Android’s biggest malware threat can be downloaded straight off the Google Play Store

Tens of thousands of Android users are thought to have accidentally downloaded malware from the Google Play Store.

Named “Viking Horde”, after one of the games the malware mimics, the “malware campaign” consists of a number of games and apps that appear almost identical to other popular downloads.

Upon installation, the device will automatically join a botnet and provide full access to parts of the devices it infects – potentially leading to theft of personal data.

These fake apps are readily available through Google Play, and can be downloaded on nearly every Android device.

The apps appear to evade Google’s malware scanners and several of the games have been downloadable for over a month.

Security firm Check Point confirm that the malware is incredibly persistent and almost impossible to get rid of.