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As the most important device in our daily lives, the cell phone has become the favorite target of cyber criminals and one of the easiest ways they have to scam their victims is through apps that appear to be harmless but actually hide malware, such as these 18 applications for Android designed to steal user information.
It should be noted that although Google makes an effort to review applications before making them available for Android devices through the Play Store, so many apps and hackers are so advanced in their strategies that some manage to circumvent security.
And once again it has been discovered that a series of 18 applications, which could be downloaded from the official Android store, were designed to steal user information. We give you all the details below so you know what they are and what to do if you have any.
These Android apps are stealing data
The first thing worth clarifying is that, of the 18 applications identified as malicious, most were removed from the Play Store quickly so its level of downloads was not that high.
However, as the Phone Arena site points out, at least 3 apps are still available for new installs including one that accumulates more than 50 thousand downloads worldwide.
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One of the reasons why the app has circumvented security systems is that it has an average rating of 4.8, so it would be considered a useful and safe option thanks to the fact that, of the 900 reviews it presents, the majority are positive.
Cybersecurity specialists are emphasizing this point because they have discovered that criminals are no longer just uploading infected apps but creating hundreds of positive reviews with the intention of “hiding” better.
It was the SecneurX, Kaspersky and D3Lab companies that discovered the malware-infected apps. According to their reports, in most cases they are presented as free productivity tools but, once they have been installed on the phone, they are responsible for stealing user information from phone numbers to email addresses, passwords and even credit card data.
This is the list of apps you should beware of
What to do if you have a malicious app?
Although according to the specialists it is unlikely that you have any of these apps on your device, if you recognize any of them you have to eliminate them.
To delete the app, go to the settings menu of your phone, enter the apps section to display all the ones you have downloaded, select the one you want and first click stop. Then select the delete option.
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And so that you do not fall for scams and the chances of getting infected with malware through an app are minimal, follow the following tips from Kaspersky:
Only download apps from official stores. Although the mentioned apps were available in the Play Store, the chances of them having malware are much lower since the company has a series of technologies to evaluate them.
Check the reviews of other users carefully. You may see hundreds of positive ones but if you find any negative ones you have to be alert, remember that cybercriminals create fake comments.
If after downloading an app you notice strange behavior on your cell phone such as unexplained messages, overheating or opening pages without being asked, immediately delete the app and change all your passwords.
GDA / El Universal / Mexico
Source: Elcomercio
I have worked as a journalist for over 10 years and have written for various news outlets. I currently work as an author at 24 News Recorder, mostly covering entertainment news. I have a keen interest in the industry and enjoy writing about the latest news and gossip. I am also a member of the National Association of Journalists.
