These malicious Android apps have been downloaded over a million times

Date:
Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:58:38 +0000

Description:
Utility apps spreading trojans through the Play Store again, placing more
than a million Android users at risk.

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Researchers have uncovered a collection of malicious apps on the Google Play Store that have been downloaded more than a million times.

Researchers from Malwarebytes detailed in a blog post how they found a total of four apps, all from the same account - Mobile apps Group. The apps are called Bluetooth Auto Connect, Driver: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, Mobile
Transfer: Smart Switch, and Bluetooth App Sender. Clearly, all of them are supposed to be utility apps.

However, what they are really designed to do is bring undeserved ad revenue
to the developers, and sometimes even trick them into downloading infostealers, malware , or other types of viruses. The researchers discovered these apps carrying HiddenAds - malware that actives a few days after the app had been downloaded, in order to better conceal malicious activity. Malicious activity

Once the malware starts working, it does a number of things, such as opening up new Chrome tabs in the background (even when the endpoint is locked) to load various ads. Sometimes, these ads are full-blown malicious, claiming the victims device is infected with a virus and needs an antivirus app immediately. Read more

This Android malware is so dangerous, even Google is worried

This wallet-draining Android malware has been downloaded millions of times

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While Google is usually pretty fast at removing such apps from its app repository, these four are still active and downloadable at press time. Whats more, even if the company removes them, it would only protect future
potential victims. The million+ users that have already downloaded these apps wont be safe unless they remove them from their devices completely.

Every now and then, researchers discover malicious apps sitting in major mobile app repositories, Play Store and App Store. Despite Googles and Apples best efforts, sometimes these apps make it through, meaning simply being in these stores is no guarantee the app is clean. Users are advised to always read through a few reviews (negative ones, particularly), and look for apps with high ratings and high download counts. Check out our rundown of the best ID theft protection tools right now



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/these-malicious-android-apps-have-been-download ed-over-a-million-times/


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