Millions of Android phones may be infected by malicious apps — delete them now
In this photo illustration a Google Play Store logo is seen on a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Three dozen malicious apps filled with adware and malware have recently been found on the Google Play Store and experts are advising any users who downloaded them to delete them immediately.
The apps pose as image-editing tools, virtual keyboards, system optimizers, wallpaper changers, and other useful tools.
According to BleepingComptuer.com, the apps, which have already been installed nearly 10 million times on mobile devices, aim to push intrusive ads on users, along with getting them to subscribe to premium services and stealing their victims' social media accounts.
The apps were initially discovered by Doctor Web, a Russian anti-malware company.
Android users are strongly advised to make sure they have not installed any of the apps (which are listed below) and if they have been installed, to manually uninstall them and perform a virus scan.
Adware apps can quickly drain your smartphone's battery by running in the background, even after being closed. They can also hide their app icons to make them difficult to find and uninstall.
The full list of apps is:
- Photo Editor: Beauty Filter
- Photo Editor: Retouch & Cutout
- Photo Editor: Art Filters
- Photo Editor - Design Maker
- Photo Editor & Background Eraser
- Photo & Exif Editor
- Photo Editor - Filters Effects
- Photo Filters & Effects
- Photo Editor : Blur Image
- Photo Editor : Cut, Paste
- Emoji Keyboard: Stickers & GIF
- Neon Theme Keyboard
- Neon Theme - Android Keyboard
- Cashe Cleaner
- FastCleaner: Cashe Cleaner
- Call Skins - Caller Themes
- Funny Caller
- CallMe Phone Themes
- InCall: Contact Background
- MyCall - Call Personalization
- Caller Theme
- Caller Theme
- Funny Wallpapers - Live Screen
- 4K Wallpapers Auto Changer
- NewScrean: 4D Wallpapers
- Stock Wallpapers & Backgrounds
- Notes - reminders and lists