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Android Apps with Malware Found on Play Store

June 28, 2022 • César Daniel Barreto

Google Play Store is not a safe place for your Android phone. A recent report revealed that hackers infected at least 12 apps on the store with malware, which can steal personal information and cause lots of damage to your device or data if installed! So before downloading anything else, make sure it’s from an official source like Google (unless otherwise specified).

How do Android Apps with Malware Get into Google Play Store?

It is still being determined how these apps with malware made their way onto the store. The developers of these apps were probably unaware of the presence of malware in their code. Or, they might have deliberately included the malicious code to make money from ad revenue. Either way, you must be careful about the apps you install on your phone.

How to protect your device from malicious apps?

You can do a few things to protect your device from malicious apps:

  1. Ensure that you have a good antivirus program installed on your phone. An antivirus program will help to scan and remove any malicious software that might be present on your device.
  2. Make sure to only download apps from trusted sources such as the Google Play Store.
  3. Always read the reviews of an app before downloading it.

Reading the reviews will help you to identify any potential risks associated with an app.

Following these simple tips can protect your Android phone from malware and other threats. So, keep them in mind the next time you download an app.

What were the apps infected with malware?

Five infected apps were accessible for download on the Play Store:

  • Wild & Exotic Animal Wallpaper: It includes adware that renames itself to SIM Tool Kit after installation. So far, it has received 500,000 downloads.
  • PIP Pic Camera Photo Editor: This software is a phoney picture editor that steals users’ Facebook passwords. Android users have already downloaded this program over 100,000 times.
  • ZodiHoroscope: This is another harmful program that targets Facebook credentials. Users have downloaded the app around 500,000 times.
  • PIP Camera 2022:This app, which claims to provide a variety of camera effects, actually contains malware that steals Facebook profile data from 50,000 users. Around 50,000 people have downloaded it.
  • Magnifier Flashlight: Adware is present in this malicious program, which has approximately 10,000 downloads.

How Android Developers Can Avoid Malware

If you are an Android developer, there are a few things you can do to avoid malware in your apps:

  1. Always use trusted development tools and frameworks.
  2. Keep your code and dependencies up to date.
  3. Use a reputable mobile security solution to scan your code for potential vulnerabilities.
  4. Never reuse code from untrusted sources.

Following these simple tips can help keep your apps safe from malware. And if you do find that your app has been infected with malware, be sure to remove it immediately and notify your users.

What was Google Play’s response?

Google has removed the infected apps from the Play Store and is working to improve its security measures to prevent such incidents from happening.

We advise all Android users to be vigilant about the apps they download and install on their devices. And if you find an app that you suspect is malicious, report it to Google.

Conclusion

These are just some of the apps that researchers found infected with malware. So if you have any of these installed on your phone, make sure to uninstall them immediately. And always be careful about the apps you download from Google Play Store. Following these simple tips can protect your device from malicious software.

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César Daniel Barreto

César Daniel Barreto is an esteemed cybersecurity writer and expert, known for his in-depth knowledge and ability to simplify complex cyber security topics. With extensive experience in network security and data protection, he regularly contributes insightful articles and analysis on the latest cybersecurity trends, educating both professionals and the public.