Nigeria Targeted in Massive SlopAds Mobile Ad Fraud on Google Play Store
Nigeria has unfortunately been identified as one of the ten countries most affected by a significant mobile ad fraud operation that targeted the Google Play Store. This illicit campaign, known as SlopAds, utilized a network of 224 malicious apps. These apps were downloaded over 38 million times globally, highlighting the widespread reach and impact of this fraudulent activity. The primary goal was to siphon off advertising budgets by generating a staggering 2.3 billion fake ad requests daily, thereby compromising the security of millions of devices, including many in Nigeria. This is a major setback for the burgeoning mobile app ecosystem in Nigeria and other African nations.
The Stealthy Tactics of SlopAds
The SlopAds operation employed a sophisticated, stealth-based approach to avoid detection. Unlike typical malware that immediately reveals its malicious intent, these apps functioned as intended upon installation, appearing harmless to the average user. However, when installed through ads promoted by the fraudsters, these apps silently activated a fraud module. This module was designed to operate in the background, secretly launching invisible browser windows, or WebViews. These WebViews then generated fraudulent ad requests, tricking advertisers into paying for views that were never actually seen by real users. The investigation and subsequent takedown were the result of collaborative efforts between HUMAN’s Satori Threat Intelligence team and Google, marking one of the largest crackdowns on mobile ad fraud in recent memory.
Keywords
Related Keywords: SlopAds, Nigeria, Play Store scam, Android malware, mobile advertising fraud, ad fraud, fake apps, malicious apps, global ad scam, top 10 countries, Nigeria ad fraud
