CyberCertPrepMobile Security FundamentalsMobile Threats & MalwareEASYFree question
Scenario
A user reports that after installing a 'free VPN' app from a third-party store, their Android phone started showing ads in the notification bar and the battery drains unusually fast. They also notice data consumption is double what it was.
What mobile malware categories best describe this behavior, and what specific mechanism is driving the elevated data and battery consumption?
- A.The app is ransomware in its early reconnaissance phase, silently exfiltrating all user photos before encrypting them - the data and battery drain represent the exfiltration loop
- B.The app is likely adware combined with a click fraud or ad-impression fraud component: it displays unsolicited ads (notification adware), silently loads advertising content in a background WebView, and generates fake ad clicks - all consuming data and CPU/battery. The 'VPN' is a lure to get users to install the malicious payload and accept battery-intensive permissions
- C.