Cheetah Mobile Releases Free App That Eliminates Simplelocker

SAN FRANCISCO, June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheetah Mobile Inc. (NYSE: CMCM), the world's leading mobile applications provider, today released an updated version of its CM Security app to address two current mobile security threats: The Simplelocker ransomeware designed to encrypt and take hostage smartphone data, as well as the pre-installed spyware on Star N9500 smartphones. CM Security is a free antivirus and mobile security application that comprehensively detects viruses, Trojans, malware, spyware, and adware on Android mobile phones and tablets.

The updated app defends against the latest variant of the CryptoLocker ransomeware – Simplelocker, which locks user smartphone data, videos and photographs by encrypting them for ransom. CM Security not only eliminates Simplelocker, but also unlocks the encrypted file, ensuring smartphones are restored to normal function.

Simplelocker evolved from the CryptoLocker ransomware, which hit the scene in May. CryptoLocker hijacked user phones with fake messages claiming to be from law enforcement officials. The messages accuse victims of illegal acts, blackmailing them to pay a fine of $300USD via untraceable online payment systems. Simplelocker exhibits similar behavior, but takes it a step further by encrypting and locking SD cards, which contains user data, audio files, photographs, and videos. It then sends ransom messages to users, demanding $200USD for decryption keys. Simplelocker utilizes a command and control server, which offers many layers of anonymity and making it difficult to track.

According to Cheetah Mobile's research labs, there are 26 known variants of Simplelocker. The CryptoLocker ransomware applications rose within one month to five variants. From May to mid-June, Cheetah Mobile found 19 variants and tracked 353 victims in Russia, 179 in U.S., 148 in the Ukraine, 94 in Saudi Arabia, 65 in China, and 16 in Iran.

Cheetah Mobile also enhanced its CM Security app to eliminate spyware pre-installed on Star N9500 smartphones, an off-brand version of the Samsung Galaxy S4. The malware, a version of the Google Play store, carries out spying activities such as copying personal data, recording phone calls and remotely activating the device's camera and microphones without user consent.

"Mobile threats are evolving rapidly and constantly. Our goal at Cheetah Mobile is to be able to help our users stay one step ahead of the types of threats that infect their smartphones," said Ruimin Huang, product manager, Cheetah Mobile. "By adopting smart user habits and installing mission-critical applications like CM Security onto their smartphones, users should be able to utilize and enjoy their smartphones to the fullest capacity."

Download Clean Master and CM Security for free in Google Play.
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About Cheetah Mobile
Cheetah Mobile Inc. (NYSE: CMCM) is a leading mobile internet company with more than 362 million monthly active users as of March 2014. Its mission critical applications, including Clean Master, CM Security, Battery Doctor and Duba Anti-virus, help make the internet and mobile experience speedier, simpler, and safer for users worldwide. Cheetah Mobile is the second largest internet security software provider in China by monthly active users as of March 2014, according to iResearch, and the publisher of Clean Master, the #1 mobile app in the Google Play Tools category worldwide by monthly downloads in March 2014, according to App Annie.  

SOURCE Cheetah Mobile Inc.