And you thought they were just Adware

Adware in Android devices have been around since the mobile OS has started. But nowadays, adware can be much more than just annoying advertisements. For example, the malware named HideIcon and NotFunny are classified as adware however it could be more than just that.

HideIcon, as its name suggests, hides app icons when installed. When users install this app it will not display an icon on the device's App Launcher and it will then aggressively push ads on the user's device. You might say that this adware is just your typical unwanted program; not as 'evolved' as well. It becomes invisible to many common Android users' attention thus leading many to not sift through their Application Manager.


As for NotFunny, this adware has two parts: a 'dropper' and a 'payload'. A 'dropper' is a tool used by a Virus dev to secretly install malicious files on a device. Droppers aren't exactly viruses but more like a trojan horse because they only carry the malicious code 'drop' the virus into a device. These apps may often look like legitimate apps so when a user installs and opens it, the 'payload' part will hide its icon on the App Launcher. The 'payload' will be the one pushing the ads on the already infected device aggressively.