Dog fights are illegal in many countries as animal rights activists are taking action against animal cruelty.  Nevertheless, an app developer decided to make a virtual game in the same context, Dog Wars.  Much like in real life, you feed and train your virtual dog to be the best fighter.  But this did not go unnoticed, as animal rights activist were enraged by the Android app.  Eventually removed from the Android Market, Symantec has uncovered a trojan-modified version of the original app.

Then a malware-tainted version of Dog Wars, dubbed Android.Dogowar by Symantec, was made to shame those who would download the app.  The modified version of the app looks similar to the original except instead of the word ‘BETA’, it had ‘PETA’ on it.

The malware works as soon as you start the app.   The Trojan file is injected into the device as a package called “Dogbite,” and once the compromised device starts up, a service called “Rabies” sends out a text message to everyone on the contact list with the message “I take pleasure in hurting small animals, just thought you should know that.” Then it sends an SMS to “73822” with the word “text,” initiating the PETA alert service.

It is still not clear if PETA has something to do with the tainted app, but they are pleased that someone was standing up for animal rights.

When asked for a comment, a PETA representative commented, “We don’t know who created this version of the app, but we think it is ingenious. When someone creates a game that glorifies animal abuse, you can bet that people will come up with clever, smart ways to take action against it,” CNet reports.

Android devices are really being picked on by hackers and malware creators; good thing Symantec has just released the Norton Mobile Security app for Android devices.  And to add to the Android-hacker world shake-up, Steve Kondik, the hobbyist hacker behind CyanogenMod software, will be taking a job for Samsung Mobile.  His work there will be focused more on making Android updates readily available for users.

Let’s just hope that more hackers will take on Kondik’s path.  We don’t actually need more hackers exposing our private data to the world.  Hackers should just put their talents to good use, they can even help make things better.