ModZoo: A Large-Scale Study of Modded Android Apps and their Markets
- URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2402.19180v1
- Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:53:26 GMT
- Title: ModZoo: A Large-Scale Study of Modded Android Apps and their Markets
- Authors: Luis A. Saavedra (1), Hridoy S. Dutta (1), Alastair R. Beresford (1),
Alice Hutchings (1) ((1) University of Cambridge)
- Abstract summary: We analyse over 146k (thousand) apps obtained from 13 of the most popular modded app markets.
Around 90% of apps we collect are altered in some way when compared to the official counterparts on Google Play.
Modifications include games cheats, such as infinite coins or lives; mainstream apps with premium features provided for free; and apps with modified advertising identifiers or excluded ads.
- Score: 0.0
- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
- Abstract: We present the results of the first large-scale study into Android markets
that offer modified or modded apps: apps whose features and functionality have
been altered by a third-party. We analyse over 146k (thousand) apps obtained
from 13 of the most popular modded app markets. Around 90% of apps we collect
are altered in some way when compared to the official counterparts on Google
Play. Modifications include games cheats, such as infinite coins or lives;
mainstream apps with premium features provided for free; and apps with modified
advertising identifiers or excluded ads. We find the original app developers
lose significant potential revenue due to: the provision of paid for apps for
free (around 5% of the apps across all markets); the free availability of
premium features that require payment in the official app; and modified
advertising identifiers. While some modded apps have all trackers and ads
removed (3%), in general, the installation of these apps is significantly more
risky for the user than the official version: modded apps are ten times more
likely to be marked as malicious and often request additional permissions.
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