36 Malicious Android Apps Found on Google Play, Have You Installed Them?

A new batch of 36 Android apps containing adware and malware has been discovered in the Google Play Store. They have been downloaded almost 10 million times, some are still available and all should be removed from Android devices immediately.

As BleepingComputer reports(Opens in a new window)the malicious apps were discovered(Opens in a new window) by the Russian anti-malware company Doctor Web. The functionality advertised by the apps includes photo editing, virtual keyboards, system optimization, background changers, user interface skins, and notes/lists app. In all cases, the apps have a secondary purpose: stealing social media accounts, showing the user intrusive ads, or signing up for premium services.

For the adware-oriented apps, each app asks for permission to be put on the battery saver exclusion list so that it can run all the time. They also want permission to display overlay windows over other apps. Once installed, they will either hide their app icon or replace it with an icon and name for something else that suggests it’s an essential system app. A full list of the malicious apps is included at the end of this article.

Malicious Poco Launcher app listing on Google Play. (Credit: Doctor Web)

Three apps have been discovered that use Android Joker malware to run arbitrary code and unsubscribe users to premium mobile services. This trio of apps includes:

• Poco Launcher

• 4K Pro camera

• Heart Emoji Stickers

Two other apps, called “Water Reminder- Tracker & Reminder” and “Yoga- For Beginner to Advanced”, are used to automatically load websites and click links for banners and advertisements. Another, simply called “Chat Online,” focuses on dating apps and tries to get your hands on your personal information or simulates a chat with a real person before demanding payment to continue chatting.

Finally, there are some apps called “YouToon – AI Cartoon Effect” and “Pista – Cartoon Photo Effect” that are designed to steal data in an attempt to access Facebook accounts.

All Android users are encouraged to check their device(s) to ensure that none of these apps are installed. If so, you should manually remove them and then run a virus scan to make sure nothing is left behind.

Then stay on your guard. Google has not yet removed all of these apps from Google Play and more may appear. Always check the comments before installing any new app that you are not 100% sure about and do some developer research to make sure they are legit.

The 36 malicious Android apps to monitor your devices are:

• Photo Editor: Beauty Filter (gb.artfilter.tenvarnist)

• Photo Editor: Retouch and Cut Out (de.nineergysh.quickarttwo)

• Photo Editor: Art Filters (gb.painnt.moonlightingnine)

• Photo Editor – Design Maker (en.twentynine.redaktoridea)

• Photo editor and background eraser (de.photoground.twentysixshot)

• Photo and Exif Editor (de.xnano.photoexifeditornine)

• Photo Editor – Filter Effects (de.hitopgop.sixtyeightgx)

• Photo filters and effects (de.sixtyonecollice.cameraroll)

• Photo Editor: Blur Image (de.instgang.fiftyggfife)

• Photo Editor: Cut, Paste (de.fiftyninecamera.rollredactor)

• Emoji Keyboard: Stickers and GIF (gb.crazykey.sevenboard)

• Neon Theme Keyboard (com.neonthemekeyboard.app)

• Neon Theme – Android Keyboard (com.androidneonkeyboard.app)

• Cashe Cleaner (com.cachecleanereasytool.app)

• Fancy charging (com.fancyanimatedbattery.app)

• FastCleaner: Cashe Cleaner (com.fastcleanercashecleaner.app)

• Caller 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)

• 4K Pro camera

• Chat online

• Heart Emoji Stickers

• Pista – Cartoon Photo Effect

• Poco Launcher

• Water Reminder – Tracker & Reminder

• Yoga – for beginners to advanced

• YouToon – AI Cartoon Effect