October 4, 2020 3:11:53 pm
These 34 Malware Infected Apps Should Be Uninstalled From Your Android Smartphone Immediately (Representative Image)
In the two-month period between July and September, Google removed 34 apps from the Google Play Store because they were inflected by the Joker malware that has been giving Android smartphone users nightmares. Joker malware isn’t new, but it has been causing headaches for Android app developers lately, as it is very difficult to detect due to the little code it uses. Also, malware like this uses a different technique called ‘Dropper’ to bypass Google’s security scan and sneak onto the user’s device.
The most recent additions to the list of applications infected by the Joker malware were revealed by Zscaler, a California-based cybersecurity firm. Here’s a look at 34 malware-infected apps that you should remove from your smartphone if you haven’t already.
1. Every good PDF scanner
2. Mint leaf message: your private message
3. Unique keyboard: stylish fonts and free emoticons
4. Tangram app crash
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 – Defocused focus
12. Warning message
13. Party message
14. Paper document scanner
15. Blue scanner
16. Hummingbird PDF Converter – Photo to PDF
17. Every good PDF scanner
18. com.imagecompress.android
19. com.relax.relaxation.androidsms
20. com.file.recovefiles
21. com.training.memorygame
22. Push message: text messages and SMS
23. GameBox from your fingertip
24. com.contact.withme.texts
25. com.cheery.message.sendsms (two different instances)
26. com.LPlocker.lockapps
27. Blocking security applications
28. Emoji Wallpaper
29. com.hmvoice.friendsms
30. com.peason.lovinglovemessage
31. com.remindme.alram
32. Handy scanner 2
33. Standalone document scanner
The Joker malware steals money from users by subscribing them to unwanted paid premium subscriptions without their consent. It first simulates interaction with the ads without the users’ knowledge and then uses the victim’s SMS messages, including OTP, to initiate payments.
READ ALSO | What is the Joker malware that affected the apps in the Google Play store?
This means that the affected user may not know that they have signed up for a paid subscription service and that their money has been deducted from their account unless they receive a message or notification indicating their credit card statements, etc.
According to Google’s blog post earlier this week, the Android security team claims it has removed around 17,000 apps since the beginning of 2017.
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