In addition to spreading itself to other users, the Selfmite worm tries to convince users to download and install a file called mobogenie_122141003.apk through the local browser. If the user agrees to install the APK, an app with the name 'The self-timer' will appear in the app list. The rogue link points to an APK (Android application package) file called TheSelfTimerV1.apk that's hosted on a remote server, researchers from security firm AdaptiveMobile said in a blog post. The text message sent by Selfmite contains the contact's name and reads: 'Dear, Look the Self-time,' followed by a goo.gl shortened URL. Android SMS worms are rare, but Selfmite is the second such threat discovered in the past two months, suggesting that their number might grow in the future. Most malware programs for Android are Trojan apps with no self-propagation mechanisms that get distributed from non-official app stores. Once installed on a device, the malware, which was dubbed Selfmite, sends a text messages to 20 contacts from the device owner's address book. A rare Android worm that propagates itself to other users via links in text messages has been discovered by security researchers.

Android worm virus