Twelve popular apps have been removed from the Google Play Store - with Android users urged to delete any they've downloaded immediately. Some of the fake apps recently banned by Google had been downloaded millions of times globally.
The apps, flagged by cybersecurity experts at Dr.Web, have been removed after they were found to be tricking users into watching endless ads or trying to steal personal data with dodgy links. They include apps which appear to be fitness, gaming or questionnaire related - often offering fake rewards or using sneaky phishing tactics, reported the Express.
Two of the banned apps - plus a third currently still available on the Play Store - promised rewards for staying active. People could supposedly earn points towards free prizes the more they walked or exercised each day, but when they tried to cash out they were either blocked from claiming or forced to watch endless ads instead.
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The three apps are:
- Lucky Step – Walking Tracker (10 million downloads)
- WalkingJoy (5 million downloads)
- Lucky Habit: health tracker (5 million downloads) - currently still available on the Play Store.
Ten other apps removed by Google were found to use phishing tactics, such as tricking users into clicking bad links that download malware or direct them to a dodgy website. Some of them were under the guise of investing software, directories, and questionnaires whilst other appeared to be simple and addictive games, according to Dr.Web.
Victims were asked to provide their personal data to submit an "application" for account registration or to communicate with a so-called "specialist". The apps include:
- Golden Hunt (100,000 downloads)
- Reflector (100,000 downloads)
- Seven Golden Wolf blackjack (100,000 downloads)
- Unlimited Score (50,000 downloads)
- Big Decisions (50,000 downloads)
- Jewel Sea (10,000 downloads)
- Lux Fruits Game (10,000 downloads)
- Lucky Clover (10,000 downloads)
- King Blitz (5,000 downloads)
- Lucky Hammer (1,000 downloads)
These apps have already been removed from the Play Store so can no longer be downloaded. But if you have any of them on your device already you should delete them.
Detection statistics collected by Dr.Web for Android found the activity of adware trojans and spyware increased in December 2022. Meanwhile, many new threats were discovered on Google Play over the last month - including dozens of fake apps and trojans that subscribe victims to paid services.
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