Remove These Adware Trolling Apps From Your Android Now
Another bunch of malicious apps have been flooding Android devices everywhere, which means it’s time to make sure you don’t unknowingly download one of them, but this batch is a bit different from the usual.
According to a recent McAfee blog post , researchers at the cybersecurity firm have discovered a malicious ad “clicker” hidden in at least 16 apps posing as useful software, from QR code scanners to travel tools and more. While these apps are not as dangerous as other forms of malware, they can consume resources, slowing down your phone’s hardware performance and draining your battery in pursuit of maximum ad revenue.
What are they doing?
The complete list of applications includes thirteen lists with English titles:
- BusanBus (com.kmshack.BusanBus)
- Currency Converter (com.smartwho.SmartCurrencyConverter)
- Ezdica (com.joysoft.ezdica)
- EzNotes (com.meek.tingboard)
- Flashlight+ (com.candlencom.candleprotest)
- Flashlight+ (com.dev.imagevault)
- Flashlight+ (kr.caramel.flash_plus)
- High speed camera (com.hantor.CozyCamera)
- Instagram Profile Downloader (com.schedulezero.instapp)
- Joycode (com.joysoft.barcode)
- K-dictionary (com.joysoft.wordBook)
- Quick note (com.movinapp.quicknote)
- Smart Task Manager (com.james.SmartTaskManager)
Three apps with Korean names were also part of McAfee’s review.
Unlike other malware that seeks to steal your data or spoof your bank account, the clicker detected by McAfee uses your Android device’s resources to “scan” ads whenever offending apps are open in the background. Basically, the app lazily clicks on ads without your knowledge. This generates ad revenue for app makers at the expense of your phone’s performance and battery life.
What to do with these applications?
Make sure you haven’t installed any of the apps listed above. If you have them, remove them immediately. Google has removed them from the Play Store, but they are still active on some phones, especially if you downloaded them or installed them from a third-party app store. No other steps are required to keep your devices or data secure. After removing them, problems with the equipment should stop.
However, while such adware is relatively safe compared to more serious forms of malware such as spyware or ransomware, you still need to take steps to prevent your devices from getting infected. The recommendations for preventing adware from spreading on your device are the same as for any other form of malware: only download apps from trusted publishers and official app stores, carefully check any software before downloading, and pay attention to the permissions that the app asks for.
In this case, there were clear indications that the apps were fake and/or malicious, especially their functionality. A good litmus test for whether an app is a possible scam is whether it promises features that are too good to be true (like “Instagram Profile Downloader”) or redundant (like the numerous “Flashlite+” apps listed above) . All Android devices already have a built-in flashlight, camera, and note-taking apps. Your stock camera app also works as a QR code scanner. Similarly, Google Translate is an efficient and ubiquitous translation tool and dictionary, while Google Search works like a dictionary and can handle any currency conversion equations instantly. You do not need to download applications that perform these functions.
[ BGR ]