Android users beware ! a new form of Android malware is on the prowl. Internet Security firm Sophos has posted a warning warning Android users not to download apps from unofficial sites since they risk affecting their fake apps that send SMS messages to services that earn their developers extra money.

If you are one of the millions of users worldwide who love to download their applications from sources other than Google Play or similar official sites, chances are that your device is affected by the malware. Popular applications like Instagram and Angry Birds are told to have been affected by the malware identified as ANdr/Boxr-F.

Graham Cluley, Senior Technology Consultant at Sophos has warned that there could be more and more attacks like this in the future and has advised users to be extremely downloading apps from sites other than the official Android markets.

Hackers are now using the media hype behind popular applications to dupe users into downloading malicious code and this trend will only continue to grow as the number of Android smartphones increase over time.