Apple Finds Malware in App Store: Hot Trends

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Popular searches on the Internet include Apple (AAPL) on reports the company found the first evidence of malware ever to hit its App store.

Apple reportedly found a malware app called Find and Call in its App store and promptly removed it on Thursday. Find and Call appears to be an address book app, but it sends users' email addresses and phone numbers to a remote server -- causing the users' contacts to receive spam messages encouraging them to download the app.

The app was also found in Google Play, where it was also removed on Thursday.

Find and Call is believed to be the first malware found on Apple's App store in its nearly four years of existence.

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Samsung is trending after it reported second-quarter results, which were largely driven by smartphones, though sales still fell short of expectations.

Samsung estimated its second-quarter operating profit to be between 6.5 trillion won and 6.9 trillion won ($5.7 billion and $6.1 billion), a 79% increase from a year ago. The jump was driven by Galaxy smartphone sales -- although the company's report of sales of 47 trillion won ($41 billion) fell short of analyst expectations of 49.8 trillion won.

The company will release a detailed earnings report later this month.

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PlayStation is another popular search. Reports indicate Sony (SNE) could be getting ready to debut a smaller version of its PlayStation 3 Slim.

Sony filed documents with the Federal Communications Commission which are said to detail a smaller PlayStation 3 than its Slim model it came out with in August 2009. The first Slim model was roughly a third lighter in weight, smaller in size and consumed less power than the original PlayStation. It also cost $100 less.

Sony unveiled its first Slim model ahead of the 2009 Gamescom convention. With this year's Gamescom beginning Aug. 15, some expect the company to reveal the new model of the PlayStation before then.

The company has not announced plans for a new PlayStation this year.

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The chatter on Main Street (a.k.a. Google, Yahoo! and other search sites) is always of interest to investors on Wall Street. Thus, each day, TheStreet compiles the stories that are trending on the Web, and highlights the news that could make stocks move.

-- Written by Brittany Umar.

Brittany joined TheStreet.com TV in November 2006 after completing a degree in Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers College. Previously, Brittany interned at the local ABC affiliate in New York City WABC-TV 7 where she helped research and produce On Your Side, a popular consumer advocacy segment.