A cybersecurity company has unveiled a list of applications containing malware. While the majority of them have been removed from Google Play, three apps are still available.
Google Play has just celebrated its 10th anniversary, but a list of fraudulent applications in free access on the platform comes to spoil this anniversary somewhat. Dr.Web, a company specializing in cybersecurity, published a report on July 26 indicating that nearly thirty free apps concealed malware in their code, which infiltrated the smartphone without its user’s knowledge. . Most of the apps presented themselves as image editing tools, wallpaper themes, keyboard themes or health advice. In total, they have accumulated more than 10 million downloads. Some applications were able to recover Facebook IDs.
The majority have already been retired by Google, but three of them are still available to Android users as of this writing. The full list is at the bottom of the article.
Pop-up adware
The first application still online on the platform is “Neon Theme Keyboard”, an adware, that is to say software that harasses the owner of the smartphone with advertising. Many comments testify to untimely notifications and videos. It has been downloaded over a million times.
The other two, ‘Water Reminder’ and ‘Yoga – For Beginner to Advanced’ are ‘Joker’ malware known to incur unwanted charges, unbeknownst to victims, by subscribing to premium services.
This list should encourage users to check reviews and ratings, visit the developer’s website, read the app’s privacy policy, and pay attention to the permissions requested during installation. These good gestures will prevent you from installing malicious software on your smartphone.
It’s also worth asking whether these apps are actually useful, because having a low number of tools on a phone reduces the chances of being trapped. Filter effects apps were, for example, those that contained malware stealing social media credentials. The full list below:
- Photo Editor: Beauty Filter (gb.artfilter.tenvarnist)
- Photo Editor: Retouch & Cutout (de.nineergysh.quickarttwo)
- Photo Editor: Art Filters (gb.painnt.moonlightingnine)
- Photo Editor – Design Maker (gb.twentynine.redaktoridea)
- Photo Editor & Background Eraser (de.photoground.twentysixshot)
- Photo & Exif Editor (de.xnano.photoexifeditornine)
- Photo Editor – Filters Effects (de.hitopgop.sixtyeightgx)
- Photo Filters & Effects (de.sixtyonecollice.cameraroll)
- Photo Editor: Blur Image (de.instgang.fiftyggfife)
- Photo Editor: Cut, Paste (de.fiftyninecamera.rollredactor)
- Emoji Keyboard: Stickers & GIFs (gb.crazykey.sevenboard)
- Neon Theme Keyboard (com.neonthemekeyboard.app)
- Neon Theme – Android Keyboard (com.androidneonkeyboard.app)
- Cashe Cleaner (com.cachecleanereasytool.app)
- Fancy Charging (com.fancyanimatedbattery.app)
- FastCleaner: Cashe Cleaner (com.fastcleanercashecleaner.app)
- Call Skins – Caller Themes (com.rockskinthemes.app)
- Funny Caller (com.funnycallercustomtheme.app)
- CallMe Phone Themes (com.callercallwallpaper.app)
- InCall: Contact Background (com.mycallcustomcallscrean.app)
- MyCall – Call Personalization (com.mycallcallpersonalization.app)
- Caller Theme (com.caller.theme.slow)
- Caller Theme (com.callertheme.firstref)
- Funny Wallpapers – Live Screen (com.funnywallpapaerslive.app)
- 4K Wallpapers Auto Changer (de.andromo.ssfiftylivesixcc)
- NewScrean: 4D Wallpapers (com.newscrean4dwallpapers.app)
- Stock Wallpapers & Backgrounds (de.stockeighty.onewallpapers)
- Notes – reminders and lists (com.notesreminderslists.app)
