The antivirus engine Trustlook detects potential threats by identifying shared characteristics and behaviors; one common threat name for Android files that is used by them is Android.PUA.DebugKey.
These detections are aimed specifically at unwanted applications that share similar characteristics and patterns, such as modified APKs and malicious files.
You may have encountered Android.PUA.DebugKey detection occurs during the VirusTotal file scan. However the mentioned threat name is a common false positive that can occur during file scans.
There is absolutely no need for concern. It has been discovered in a variety of files, including those that are typically considered harmless.
Antivirus threat detection in general
Antivirus software depends on comprehensive databases that store signatures and patterns for various types of harmful software, such as viruses, malware, ransomware, trojans, adware, and other potentially dangerous programs that are frequently encountered.
They frequently makes use of these datasets. Malware removal requires a thorough scan of the device and comparison to a comprehensive database of distinctive signatures or identifiers associated with malicious software. This helps to identify and eliminate any potential threats.
If an antivirus program finds a file or application on a user’s computer that matches a signature in its database, it will take immediate action to remove the malicious file.
Similarly, an antivirus tool can protect a computer by constantly monitoring for potential threats and using its extensive database of threat signatures. VirusTotal scans files with over 70 antivirus engines to provide a comprehensive analysis.
To ensure that the uploaded file is safe, it is compared to the malware patterns stored in each engine’s databases. Antivirus programs may mistakenly flag a file as malware when it is not, due to the presence of a common pattern or signature.
The antivirus engine may mistakenly flag valid files as malware, even if they have been deemed clean by other antivirus engines.
More about Android.PUA.DebugKey malware
This specific threat is not intended to cause harm. On the contrary, it frequently generates false alarms and incorrectly identifies certain files and apps on the device as potential threats.
However, if your phone has been infected with malware or you downloaded a modified APK from untrustworthy sources, your system is most likely infected and requires malware removal.
If you want a simple way to avoid false positives, try scanning your device with Malwarebytes. This program is well-known for its powerful malware protection and convenient mobile version.
It is also a good way to check if any of your downloaded files have malware embedded within them.