“Google is a malicious app.” Strange message on Huawei phones

Old Huawei devices incorrectly identify Google apps as malicious Trojans, specifically designated TrojanSMS-PA. According to the alert, this “malware” can send SMS messages without the user’s consent.

Incorrect virus message

On user forums (Reddit, Google Help and many others) many confirm that this is not an isolated case. The problem seems to have started after the latest Google app update and is mainly determined by Huawei’s Phone Manager or Optimizer app.

“This app has been found to send private text messages encouraging users to pay for adult content, download/install apps privately, or steal personal information, which may result in property damage and invasion of privacy. We recommend that you remove it immediately,” we read in the message displayed by devices from the Chinese manufacturer.

Software glitch

Other antivirus apps such as Norton and Sophos did not identify the Google app as malicious, leading to strong speculation that it was a false positive. Although Huawei has not made any official statements, the general consensus is that this is a bug in Huawei and Honor’s security software and not an actual security threat from Google.

One of the most likely reasons for Huawei’s false security alerts could be a software glitch. Often, bugs break security algorithms, resulting in inaccurate notifications. Another aspect to consider is the role of forged signatures. Security software relies on virus definitions, and an outdated or erroneous signature can lead to misidentification.