This year, Alphabet Inc, Google’s parent company has been on a malware cleaning spree on its Store.
In the three months to September, about 34 apps have been banned from the Google Play Store for being infected with malware.
The notorious malware, Joker has been infecting apps and stealing your private data including your SMS messages, contact lists, and device information.
The malware, categorized as fleeceware simulates clicks and intercept SMS’ to subscribe to unwanted paid premium services without the users’ knowledge.
Joker first infected 11 apps on the Play Store in July, followed by 6 more apps in the first half of September, and now a California-based IT security company called Zscaler has revealed 17 more.
In July, Elvina, a French cyber-security firm, 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. You can read more in the link shared below.
ALSO READ: Delete these 24 dangerous apps banned by Google
The apps have since been removed from the Play Store, but users who have them downloaded any of these should manually delete them.
Here’s the list of 34 apps –
1. All Good PDF Scanner
2. Mint Leaf Message-Your Private Message
3. Unique Keyboard – Fancy Fonts & Free Emoticons
4. Tangram App Lock
5. Direct Messenger
6. Private SMS
7. One Sentence Translator – Multifunctional Translator
8. Style Photo Collage
9. Meticulous Scanner
10. Desire Translate
11. Talent Photo Editor – Blur focus
12. Care Message
13. Part Message
14. Paper Doc Scanner
15. Blue Scanner
16. Hummingbird PDF Converter – Photo to PDF
17. All Good PDF Scanner
18. com.imagecompress.android
19. com.relax.relaxation.androidsms
20. com.file.recovefiles
21. com.training.memorygame
22. Push Message- Texting & SMS
23. Fingertip GameBox
24. com.contact.withme.texts
25. com.cheery.message.sendsms (two different instances)
26. com.LPlocker.lockapps
27. Safety AppLock
28. Emoji Wallpaper
29. com.hmvoice.friendsms
30. com.peason.lovinglovemessage
31. com.remindme.alram
32. Convenient Scanner 2
33. Separate Doc Scanner
