New malware appears on Android marketplace

New malware has appeared on Google's Android marketplace, under the guise of legitimate apps.

Users are duped into downloading the malicious code, which has been found in apps with names such as 'iBook', 'iCartoon' and 'ShakeBanger'.

The code is designed to send SMS messages in order to subscribe to paid services without the knowledge of the handset owner.

The SMS Trojans were discovered by security company AegisLab, which released the news via its blog this week.

Google reacted quickly to the alert and has removed the 11 apps so far discovered to host the malware.

The Android Marketplace was similarly infected with malware in early March this year, when a number of apps were found to contain malicious code known as DroidDream.

Further malware was released as part of this scam, posing as a security update from Google designed to eliminate the threat.