Google has banned a further 24 apps from its Play Store because of concerns they are causing Android users to be flooded with adverts. The tech giant banned more than 50 apps last month for the same problem, with worries that the apps were clogging phones up with annoying hardware.
Danger: Hacking and data stealing
The apps allow hackers to target Facebook users and steal their personal details. In total the 25 malicious apps have been installed over 2.3 million times.
French cyber-security firm Evina was behind the discovery of the new malware. The company confirmed the apps had been able to infiltrate devices by posing as legitimate services, such as games, flashlights, phone wallpapers, and step counters.
Once the apps have been installed, a malicious code hidden within the code waits until the user launches Facebook in order to start stealing their personal data.
The app mimics Facebook’s login page by overlaying a web browser window on top of the official Facebook app. This is known as a phishing scam.
When users type in their usernames and passwords, this information can then be sent to the hackers, rather than to Facebook.
Delete the apps now
Google announced that it has removed the apps after finding the French security firm’s warnings to be valid. However, some of the apps had been available to download for over a year before being discovered.
While the apps are no longer available to download from the Play Store, Evina has advised all Android users to delete these apps from their phones if they installed them before Google’s clean up.
This is because Google cannot remove apps from users devices, even if they have removed the app from the Play Store.
Additionally, if you think you have downloaded one of the apps in the past, Evina advises you to change your Facebook password.
The 24 apps are:
- Super Wallpapers Flashlight
- Padenatef
- Wallpaper Level
- Contour Level wallpaper
- iPlayer & iWallpaper
- Video Maker
- Color Wallpapers
- Pedometer
- Powerful Flashlight
- Super Bright Flashlight
- Super Flashlight
- Solitare Game
- Accurate scanning of QR code
- Classic card game
- Junk file cleaning
- Synthetic Z
- File Manager
- Composite Z
- Screenshot Capture
- Daily Horoscope Wallpapers
- Wuxia Reader
- Plus Weather
- Anime Live Wallpaper
- Health Step Counter
