Leading cloud-based smartphone security, Lookout unleashes the new facade of a more refined and sophisticated class of Trojan virus that is targeting Androids.  Now called “Geinimi”, this Trojan can severely affect and compromise your personal information and distribute these onto remote servers. Experts say that this one is the first Android malware to exhibit botnet-like capabilities. The tragedy here lies when this malware is installed in a phone and receives commands from a local server—which can take full control over the phone.

The same Lookout blog explains the concept on how Geinimi operates: “When a host application containing Geinimi is launched on a user’s phone, the Trojan runs in the background and collects significant information that can compromise a user’s privacy. The specific information it collects includes location coordinates and unique identifiers for the device (IMEI) and SIM card (IMSI). At five minute intervals, Geinimi attempts to connect to a remote server using one of ten embedded domain names. A subset of the domain names includes www.widifu.com, www.udaore.com, www.frijd.com, www.islpast.com and www.piajesj.com. If it connects, Geinimi transmits collected device information to the remote server.”

Lookout blog further educate users on who/which can be affected by the attack: “There are a number of applications—typically games—we have seen repackaged with the Geinimi Trojan and posted in Chinese app stores, including Monkey Jump 2, Sex Positions, President vs. Aliens, City Defense and Baseball Superstars 2010. It is important to remember that even though there are instances of the games repackaged with the Trojan, the original versions available in the official Google Android Market have not been affected. As the Lookout team finds more variants of the Geinimi Trojan grafted onto legitimate applications, we’ll provide timely updates.”

Lookout has already provided their updates to Android users on how to stay safe from Geinimi. They advised users to only download applications from trusted sites and application markets. Utilize reviews and star ratings of these downloading sites online. Users were also instructed to carefully read permissions on applications request or warnings and always download mobile app security for the phone.

Lookout continues to aid users in securing the mobile phones and personal information. In a recent article posted in SiliconAngle, the smartphone security company released a helpful list of tips on how to be more conscious about securing their mobile phones. The business saw amazing growth in 2010 and reached 4 million registered users. With this, they were granted $19.5 million via series C round of funding that was led by Index Ventures.