Google has removed 17 apps from its Play Store that purported to gain unauthorized access to user data.
HIGHLIGHT
- Google has removed 17 apps in total from the Google Play Store.
- All 17 Android apps removed were infected with the Joker malware.
- According to reports, there were around 120,000 downloads for these malicious apps.
Google has removed 17 Android apps from its official distribution service platform, Play Store. All 17 apps were infected with the Joker malware, which is also called Bread malware. Security researchers at Zscaler, which is a California-based IT security company, identified these malicious apps.
“This spyware is designed to steal SMS messages, contact lists, and device information, as well as silently logging the victim for premium wireless application protocol (WAP) services,” said Zscaler Viral Gandhi security researcher.
As soon as Google was notified about the 17 malicious apps claiming to gain unauthorized access to user data, the company’s Android security team took immediate action to remove the apps from the Play Store.
But there were still a total of around 120,000 downloads for the identified malicious apps, as Zscaler noted in a blog post.
The 17 apps removed from the Play Store by Google include:
–All good PDF scanner
–Mint Leaf Message-Your private message
– Unique keyboard – Free stylish fonts and emoticons
– Tangram app lock
– Direct messenger
– Private SMS
–A phrase translator – Multifunctional translator
– Style photo collage
– Meticulous scanner
–Desire Translate
–Talent Photo Editor – Focus Blur
–Attention message
– Party message
– Paper document scanner
–Blue scanner
– Hummingbird PDF Converter – Photo to PDF
–All good PDF scanner
