The dodgy ads were concealed in free-to-download games and cameras apps, and were all available on the official Google Play Store.
Dodgy Android apps would use sneaky ads to earn money for crooks – while ruining your phone
Collectively the apps had been installed on millions of devices – including eight which had been downloaded more than 9million times.
But the apps contained rogue “adware” that would create ads that were impossible to cancel, and hidden ads that lurked in the background of your device.
These insidious hidden ads would wipe out your phone’s memory and battery life, while earning money for the crooks who created them.
“As mobile ad spending increases year by year, cybercriminals will continue to try to illicitly profit via adware that have increasingly insidious tricks,” reads the investigation by You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., a top cybersecurity firm.
Android phone owners should check Google Play Store reviews before downloading any app
Google has taken down the vast majority of the rogue apps from the Play Store.
However, the apps may still be installed on your device and should be deleted immediately.
Criminals use dodgy ad software to earn money at your expense.
Every time you (or your phone) “sees” an ad, the crooks will earn money.
So criminals create ads that are difficult or impossible to close, generating more money for them.
They also create hidden ads that run in the background on your phone, earning them cash even though a human never even sees the ads.
This can be a significant drain on your phone’s resources like processing power, memory and battery life.
“The infected device’s battery and memory will also be consumed as ads continue to pop up from the background,” TrendMicro warned.
Some apps would even hide their icons from users, making them difficult to locate and delete.
And often, the ads would be displayed in full-screen when you unlocked your phone – even if you weren’t using the app.
Rogue Android apps – the full list
Delete these apps immediately to avoid dodgy adware...
“Even when the app is not running, full-screen ads that cannot be immediately closed or exited pop-up on a user’s screen,” Trend Micro explained.
“When a user attempts to promptly close an ad that has popped up by clicking the Back button, it will only show an “open with” call-to-action message instead of exiting out of the ad.
“This adds to the cybercriminal’s mobile ad revenue and to the user’s annoyance.
“The button to close the ad will appear only after a set number of seconds has elapsed.”
We recently warned over another 230 Android apps You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
For safer downloads, check out the official You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. list from the Google Play Awards 2018.
And make sure to avoid dodgy You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. that simply don’t work.
Have you spotted any dodgy Android apps lately? Let me know in the comments!
Dodgy Android apps would use sneaky ads to earn money for crooks – while ruining your phone
Collectively the apps had been installed on millions of devices – including eight which had been downloaded more than 9million times.
But the apps contained rogue “adware” that would create ads that were impossible to cancel, and hidden ads that lurked in the background of your device.
These insidious hidden ads would wipe out your phone’s memory and battery life, while earning money for the crooks who created them.
“As mobile ad spending increases year by year, cybercriminals will continue to try to illicitly profit via adware that have increasingly insidious tricks,” reads the investigation by You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., a top cybersecurity firm.
Android phone owners should check Google Play Store reviews before downloading any app
Google has taken down the vast majority of the rogue apps from the Play Store.
However, the apps may still be installed on your device and should be deleted immediately.
Criminals use dodgy ad software to earn money at your expense.
Every time you (or your phone) “sees” an ad, the crooks will earn money.
So criminals create ads that are difficult or impossible to close, generating more money for them.
They also create hidden ads that run in the background on your phone, earning them cash even though a human never even sees the ads.
This can be a significant drain on your phone’s resources like processing power, memory and battery life.
“The infected device’s battery and memory will also be consumed as ads continue to pop up from the background,” TrendMicro warned.
Some apps would even hide their icons from users, making them difficult to locate and delete.
And often, the ads would be displayed in full-screen when you unlocked your phone – even if you weren’t using the app.
Rogue Android apps – the full list
Delete these apps immediately to avoid dodgy adware...
- com.magicvcam.mine.ygycamera.magic Magic Camera
- com.frog.crushtoy.blast Frog Crush
- com.onestoke.games.www.puzzlegame One Line Stroke
- com.candy.crushfunny.toystoys Toy Smash
- com.tools.blur.master.editor Blur Master
- com.selfiecam.photos Selfie Camera
- com.puzzle.ygyline.onestroke One Stroke Line Puzzle
- com.magicvcam.tool.beauty.camera Beauty Camera
- com.candy.crushfunny.toystoys Toy Smash
- com.magicvcam.tool.beauty.camera Beauty Camera
- com.jelly.crush.europam.games Jelly Crush
- com.magicvcam.beauty.yoobao.camera Beauty Camera
- com.toy.blast.cube.crush.toysfun Toy Blast
- com.ygy.find.spot.the.difference Find Differences
- com.magicvcam.beauty.yoobao.camera
- com.puzzle.ygyline.onestroke One Stroke Line Puzzle
- com.ygy.find.spot.the.difference Find Differences
- com.mob.wongame.color.house Color House
- com.Beauty.Camera 360 Camera
- com.owl.yg.ycamera Owl Camera
- com.ygy.magic.camera Sweet Camera
- com.face.camera360 361 Camera
- com.super.photo.ygy.camera Super Camera
- com.funny.camera.top 999 Camera
- com.music.play.hi.cloud Hi Music Play
- com.blurcam.pro.usefultools Blur Camera
- com.music.play.hi.cloud Hi Music Play
- com.cam999.filters.beauty 999 Camera
- com.cam999.beautycam.camera Super Camera
- com.soon.ygy.photograph.camera Soon Camera
- com.camera.easy.photo.beauty Easy Camera
- com.soon.ygy.photograph.camera Soon Camera
- com.camera.easy.photo.beauty.Pro Easy Camera Pro
- com.connect.smash.game.firegame Connect Smash
- com.soon.ygy.photograph.camera Soon Camera
- com.camera.easy.photo.beauty Easy Camera
- com.connect.smash.game.firegame Connect Smash
- com.magicvcam.meet.photograph Meet Camera
- com.mobwontools.pixel.blur.editor Pixel Blur
- com.connect.dots.maker.drawoneline Draw 1 Line
- com.blur.img.png.jpge.fast Fast Blur
- com.magicvcam.meet.photograph Meet Camera
- com.mobwontools.pixel.blur.editor Pixel Blur
- com.time.date.stamp.camera.xixifunction Date Stamp Camera
- com.video.master.face.fb Video Player
- com.pic.photo.editor.eraser PIC Eraser
- com.mobwontools.pixel.blur.editor Pixel Blur
- com.video.player.ygyhd HD Video Player
- com.magicvcam.meet.photograph Meet Camera
- com.mobwontools.pixel.blur.editor Pixel Blur
- com.quick.blur.face.you.pic Quick Blur
- com.box.checkers.chess.free Checkers box
- com.tools.blur.master.editor Blur Master
- com.magicvcam.camera.newmeet Meet Camera
- com.tools.blur.master.editor Blur Master
- com.puzzle.ygyline.onestroke One Stroke Line Puzzle
- com.game.connect.together.firegame Connect Together
- com.puzzle.lines1.drawstroke One-line Draw Puzzle Stroke
“Even when the app is not running, full-screen ads that cannot be immediately closed or exited pop-up on a user’s screen,” Trend Micro explained.
“When a user attempts to promptly close an ad that has popped up by clicking the Back button, it will only show an “open with” call-to-action message instead of exiting out of the ad.
“This adds to the cybercriminal’s mobile ad revenue and to the user’s annoyance.
“The button to close the ad will appear only after a set number of seconds has elapsed.”
We recently warned over another 230 Android apps You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
For safer downloads, check out the official You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. list from the Google Play Awards 2018.
And make sure to avoid dodgy You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. that simply don’t work.
Have you spotted any dodgy Android apps lately? Let me know in the comments!
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