Microsoft has removed an app from its Windows Store that tried to install adware on Windows 10 computers. It's unclear how the app ended up in the Windows Store since Microsoft checks apps first and if an app shows unwanted or malicious behavior during the check it won't be added to the Windows Store. Besides that, Windows Store apps also run in a sandbox that should prevent that they can install malware or unwanted software.
The app that somehow still ended up in the Windows Store is called Torrenty and can be used to download torrents. Recently the app alerted users that an update was available. When the update button was clicked, users were redirected to the download of Bittorrent software BitLord, packaged in an adware-downloader.
The downloader tried to install adware called 'PremierOpinion' which shows unwanted advertisements and popups for surveys and runs on both Windows and Mac OS X, according to Windows follower Ed Bott. According to Bott it's hard to prevent this kind of behavior as apps can open links which contain different content than when Microsoft checked the app.
Nevertheless, a similar method wouldn't work on iOS or Android because these operating systems only allow installations from known sources. It's therefore important that Windows 10 users are aware of the fact that links opened in apps are potentially unsafe.
After Bott informed Microsoft the company decided to remove the app, however its users comments and reviews are still online.
