About thirty applications have been deleted from the Play storewhen it was discovered that they were distributing malware of several different categories.
Under the guise of simple tools, these apps open invasive ads and run in the background. But they also do much worse.
Thirty malicious applications
These applications are simply presented as tools for photo editing, filters, sports training, emoji keyboards or even as instant messengers. Once installed, they ask permission to open pop-up ads.
Sometimes apps even offer the services listed in their description, and run malware simultaneously in the background. Many of these apps contain the Joker malware, among other things, which subscribes you to paid services and calls premium rate numbers without your consent.
To confuse apps, apps remove their icons from the home screen or change icons after downloading. They end up being forgotten by the user who can no longer find the icon and does not know how to uninstall the app which has disappeared from the home screen.
Apps to remove immediately
Some of these applications are even more malicious: presented as photo editing tools, they are actually capable of breaking into your Facebook accounts. They require users to register using their Facebook credentials, like many other legitimate apps. Once the authentication is done, they recover the identifiers and distribute them to hackers.
Another instant messaging app offers victims to sign up for a free dating service with their phone number. But, after accessing the mail, the user is unknowingly charged. Despite Google’s efforts to remove these malicious apps from the Play Store as quickly as possible, they were downloaded 10 million times before being removed.
Here is the list of malicious apps:
- 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)
Source : The Hacker News
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