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Researchers have discovered another batch of seemingly innocent Android apps that are actually designed to distribute malware and collect money from unsuspecting victims.

The latest collection includes wallpaper apps, keyboards, photo editors, video editors, and sometimes cache cleaner or system maintenance apps discovered by the Dr. Web.

A total of 28 apps were found in the Google Play Store that somehow managed to bypass Google’s security policy.

Hacked Android Apps

As for the harm from them, the practice is more or less the same. After installation, most applications try to hide by changing their appearance in the application menu to that of system software. Thus, they hope that users will not think of deleting them. The apps then push ads and try to connect the victim to various premium services in order to charge them extra money.

All this would be impossible if the users themselves did not give the programs the necessary permissions. While apps are simple in design (and do what they advertise), they often ask users for additional rights on the system, such as exclusion from the battery saver feature, so they can continue to run in the background even after they’ve finished. work, which in itself is a serious alarm signal.

Most of the apps have already been removed from the Play Store, but three of them are still there. However, even if all of them were deleted, they were still downloaded millions of times, and until the victims delete them from their devices, they will continue to pose a threat.

As malicious applications become better at hiding in front of users, downloading exclusively from known sources is no longer the only solution. Users should also read reviews as they are a good indicator of the legitimacy of the software. In addition, you need to make sure that there are a lot of reviews, as scammers can fake some of them. If an app has only a few reviews, it’s best to stay away from it.

The full list of malicious applications discovered by researchers:

  • Photo Editor: Beauty Filter (gb.artfilter.tenvarnist)
  • Photo Editor: Retouch & Cutout (de.nineergysh.quickarttwo)
  • Photo Editor: Art Filters (gb.painnt.moonlightingnine)
  • Photo Editor – Design Maker (gb.twentynine.redaktoridea)
  • Photo Editor & Background Eraser (de.photoground.twentysixshot)
  • Photo & Exif Editor (de.xnano.photoexifeditornine)
  • Photo Editor – Filters Effects (de.hitopgop.sixtyeightgx)
  • Photo Filters & Effects (de.sixtyonecollice.cameraroll)
  • Photo Editor : Blur Image (de.instgang.fiftyggfife)
  • Photo Editor : Cut, Paste (de.fiftyninecamera.rolleditor)
  • Emoji Keyboard: Stickers & GIFs (gb.crazykey.sevenboard)
  • Neon Theme Keyboard (com.neonthemekeyboard.app)
  • Neon Theme – Android Keyboard (com.androidneonkeyboard.app)
  • Cash Cleaner (com.cachecleanereasytool.app)
  • Fancy Charging (com.fancyanimatedbattery.app)
  • FastCleaner: Cash Cleaner (com.fastcleanercachecleaner.app)
  • Call Skins – Caller Themes (com.rockskinthemes.app)
  • Funny Caller (com.funnycallercustomtheme.app)
  • CallMe Phone Themes (com.callercallwallpaper.app)
  • InCall: Contact Background (com.mycallcustomcallscrean.app)
  • MyCall – Call Personalization (com.mycallcallpersonalization.app)
  • Caller Theme (com.caller.theme.slow)
  • Caller Theme (com.callertheme.firstref)
  • Funny Wallpapers – Live Screen (com.funnywallpapaerslive.app)
  • 4K Wallpapers Auto Changer (de.andromo.ssfiftylivesixcc)
  • NewScrean: 4D Wallpapers (com.newscrean4dwallpapers.app)
  • Stock Wallpapers & Backgrounds (de.stockeighty.onewallpapers)
  • Notes – reminders and lists (com.notesreminderslists.app)

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