While we often think of worst-case scenarios when it comes to malicious software — stolen identities, drained bank accounts, or private information leaking — the ambitions of the bad actors behind the software are not always so grand. Sometimes, all a malicious app wants to do is make its creator a few bucks. Of course, they are still malicious, and now a new slate of Android apps with trojans has been uncovered on the Google Play store.
While Google has made strides in creating and improving the robustness of screen apps entering its Android ecosystem, bad actors with devious techniques manage to sneak into Google Play Store. In the latest instance, McAfee’s cyber security researchers has detected 16 adware-laced Android on Google Play Store, and they have managed to hoodwink people to install on more than 20 million (two crores) devices around the world.
The McAfee researchers explain that malicious code was lurking within a number of popular utility apps, such as flashlights, task managers, and QR readers.
Once installed, the malware starts browsing websites in the background, without the user’s knowledge, to generate fake views and clicks. Not only are you lining the pockets of ad fraud scammers, but the impact on your device can be significant.
While your phone is browsing websites in the background, your battery life will drop as if you are doing the browsing yourself. If you have any weird apps on your phone and your battery life isn’t what it used to be, you might now know why.
Here’s the full list of Android apps with trojans that McAfee researchers found:
- High-Speed Camera (com.hantor.CozyCamera)
- Smart Task Manager (com.james.SmartTaskManager)
- Flashlight+ (kr.caramel.flash_plus)
- 달력메모장 (com.smh.memocalendar)
- K-Dictionary (com.joysoft.wordBook)
- BusanBus (com.kmshack.BusanBus)
- Flashlight+ (com.candlencom.candleprotest)
- Quick Note (com.movinapp.quicknote)
- Currency Converter (com.smartwho.SmartCurrencyConverter)
- Joycode (com.joysoft.barcode)
- EzDica (com.joysoft.ezdica)
- Instagram Profile Downloader (com.schedulezero.instapp)
- Ez Notes (com.meek.tingboard)
- 손전등 (com.candlencom.flashlite)
- 계산기 (com.doubleline.calcul)
- Flashlight+ (com.dev.imagevault)
