No wonder malware android apps have always been there and they are trying to invent new ways to pass through the security of the Google Play Store. No matter how legit and secure an app looks, there’s always the possibility that the app is actually malicious. One of the most popular tactics used by these malicious android apps is the use of time-based delays to hide suspicious activities. We’ve seen this happen time and time again in the Play Store, and this time another story of unsecured apps appeared.
According to reports, these 4 apps were loaded with pay-per-click ads and infected with ads trojan. At worst, these apps encouraged users to install malware or other generic apps on their phones to exploit the user. All four apps are from the same developer (Mobile apps Group) and have over a million downloads. It has been identified it was an attempt to steal information and redirect victims to malicious websites.
How do these Malware Apps Work?
According to an analysis by Malwebbytes, the time delay for these apps was about 72 days. After the self-imposing delay, the app started opening the first phishing site in the Chrome browser and then opened more tabs every few hours. Some sites are not that harmful, these are just for generating revenue through advertising, others are more dangerous, and try to trick users into thinking their devices are infected or need to update their devices.
Other shocking details revealed by Collier showed that These apps can open Chrome tabs in the background even when your phone is locked. When a user opens his phone, Chrome opens the tab with the latest website. A new tab often opens a new website, so opening your phone after a few hours means closing several tabs. The user’s browsing history also contains a long list of malicious phishing sites.
Nathan Collier also reported the developer has also previously distributed the malware through Google Play. It was unclear if Google actually caught the mobile app group, but now we’ve noted that Google has removed apps from the Play Store. This indicates that the developer of the apps has been caught by Google and is banned.
Dangerous Android Apps List
Here are the four apps you should delete of them if they are on your device:
- Bluetooth Auto Connect – 1,000,000+ downloads
- Bluetooth App Sender – 50,000+ downloads
- Driver: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB – 10,000+ downloads
- Mobile transfer: smart switch- 1,000+ downloads
Always make sure your device is running the latest version of Android software. Android system updates are packed with new features, bug fixes, and tighter security. And make sure you download apps only from Play Store. There’s always a chance that a malicious app can make its way through the security of the Google Play Store, but you should be aware of what permissions your phone has given to this app.
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