Apps were found in the Google app store that spread malware.
A harmless-looking application can hide a serious security risk. Adobe Stock / AOP
Android apps containing Joker, Coper and Facestealer malware were found in the Google Play app store. Malicious applications were discovered by a specialist in information security Zscaler and report on them first Bleeping Computer.
Although the apps have already been removed from the app store, someone has already managed to download them more than 300,000 times. The apps looked like harmless camera and scanner apps, for example.
The malware in question extracts information from the device and, for example, accesses messages and phone calls. In addition, they can make expensive orders or imitate login sites, through which criminals can access user data.
The Joker malware, which makes orders and steals contact information, was found in 50 applications. The vanilla Snap Camera app again contained the Facestealer malware, which tries to capture the victim’s Facebook login credentials by imitating the real login site.
Zcaler has published an extensive list of malicious applications on its pages. Listed below are some of the apps that can be found on the list.
- Simple Note Scanner
- Universal PDF Scanner
- Smart Messages
- Instant Messenger
- Funny Keyboard
- Enjoy Message
- Unicc QR Scanner
- Vanilla Snap Camera
If one of the applications has been installed, it should be removed immediately. Malware can be really tricky in that they don’t necessarily show up in virus scanners and they also go unnoticed by Google.
If a malicious program has reached the phone, simply deleting the malicious application may not help, but the user is required to restore the factory settings.