According to TechRadar , a large-scale ad fraud campaign has just been discovered on Google Play, causing more than 60 million Android users worldwide to become victims of malicious applications. Security experts from Bitdefender have discovered hundreds of dangerous applications, which pose risks of stealing personal data and displaying 'spam' ads.
Malicious apps installed on over 60 million Android devices
PHOTO: PCMAG SCREENSHOT
Malicious apps are cleverly hidden on Google Play
According to Bitdefender and IAS Threat Lab, at least 331 malicious apps have been detected, with a total of more than 60 million downloads. These apps often 'disguise' themselves as common utilities such as QR code scanners, expense trackers, health apps, wallpaper apps, etc. They mainly operate on devices running Android 13 or lower.
Once installed, these apps hide their icons from the home screen, making them difficult to uninstall. They retain some functionality to build trust, but also display unwanted ads over other running apps.
Some apps even attempt to collect login credentials, credit card data, and other sensitive information. More worryingly, they have the ability to launch without user interaction, even on Android 13.
Google confirmed that all of these malicious apps have been removed from Google Play. However, users who installed them are still at risk of attack.
To stay safe, Android users should follow these steps:
- Check and delete strange applications: If your phone shows signs of abnormality (lag, strange ads, overheating, data consumption...), immediately remove applications of unknown origin or rarely used.
- Update Android to the latest version: Android 15 and newer versions have better security.
- Use Google Play Protect: This feature is enabled by default on Android devices with Google Play services, helping detect and block malicious apps.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hon-60-trieu-thiet-bi-android-dinh-bay-ung-dung-doc-hai-tren-google-play-185250320174504802.htm
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