Google has recently removed about 15 of the 21 Android applications that can be downloaded through the official PlayStore over the span of the weekend following a report coming from the Czech antivirus maker known as Avast. The security firm stated that the apps were in fact infected with a particular type of malware that is known as the HiddenAds, reported by McAfee.
How was the Adware Malware spread like wildfire?
This type of malware was discovered back in 2019. The said Android adware strain actually operates by showing the excessive and intrusive ads and also by opening the mobile browsers on certain ad-heavy or promotional pages.
In a recent report published by Avast, their analyst known as Jakub Vavra stated that the apps have mimicked popular games, and the particular criminal group that is operating behind the scene relied on the given social media ads as well as strategic marketing in order to get players to head to their Play Store pages.
Once the said application is installed within any of the apps, the HiddenAds malware would then hide the said app's icon and proceed to bombarding users with their ads.
ZDNet published a list of the 21 apps that were mentioned:
Shoot Them | 1,000,000 |
Rolling Scroll | 1,000,000 |
Crush Car | 1,000,000 |
Helicopter Attack - NEW | 1,000,000 |
Helicopter Shoot | 500,000 |
Assassin Legend - 2020 NEW | 500,000 |
Flying Skateboard | 500,000 |
Rugby Pass | 500,000 |
Iron it | 100,000 |
Plant Monster | 100,000 |
Shooting Run | 100,000 |
Find 5 Differences - 2020 NEW | 100,000 |
Find Hidden | 100,000 |
Jump Jump | 100,000 |
Rotate Shape | 100,000 |
Sway Man | 100,000 |
Money Destroyer | 100,000 |
Find the Differences - Puzzle Game | 100,000 |
Desert Against | 50,000 |
Props Rescue | 10,000 |
Cream Trip - NEW | 10,000 |
Read Also: Google 'Fixes' Zero-Day Security Exploit With Chrome and Chrome OS Update
Already hitting 7 million users: out of the 21 apps, 6 remain
Currently, there are six out of the 21 apps that are still very much available on PlayStore. The apps that are still there are Helicopter Shoot, Shoot Them, Rotate Shape, Find 5 Differences - 2020, Cover art Find the Difference - Puzzle Game, and also Money Destroyer.
Avast stated that all of the apps were in fact downloaded by a total of over seven million users even before it previously filed its general report along with Google last week.
Vavra stated that it is easy to fall for the apps on the list and install one on your device, but there are a few patterns and giveaways that can actually help users identify if the app is possibly malicious.
The said apps have still been spreading like wildfire which is alarming for security companies. Luckily, data has been collected regarding which apps that pose a red flag on the security companies and out of the 25, there have already been a few that were taken down.
Although not all of the apps have been dealt with, six apps out of the total 21 apps are still pretty impressive considering that this was done as an immediate response to the supposed threat.
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This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Urian Buenconsejo
