Security News > 2020 > July > Joker Android Malware Dupes Its Way Back Onto Google Play

A new variant of the infamous Joker malware has once again made it onto Google Play, with Google removing 11 malicious Android applications from its official app marketplace, researchers disclosed Thursday.
"The Joker malware is tricky to detect, despite Google's investment in adding Play Store protections. Although Google removed the malicious apps from the Play Store, we can fully expect Joker to adapt again. Everyone should take the time to understand what Joker is and how it hurts everyday people."
The Joker malware continues to hoodwink its way onto Google Play via legitimate applications.
In January, researchers revealed that Google removed 17,000 Android apps so far from the Play store that have been conduits for the Joker malware.
"Our latest findings indicate that Google Play Store protections are not enough. We were able to detect numerous cases of Joker uploads on a weekly basis to Google Play, all of which were downloaded by unsuspecting users," said Check Point researchers.
News URL
https://threatpost.com/joker-android-malware-dupes-its-way-back-onto-google-play/157307/
Related news
- SpyLend Android malware downloaded 100,000 times from Google Play (source)
- New North Korean Android spyware slips onto Google Play (source)
- Malicious Android 'Vapor' apps on Google Play installed 60 million times (source)
- Vo1d malware botnet grows to 1.6 million Android TVs worldwide (source)
- Google's March 2025 Android Security Update Fixes Two Actively Exploited Vulnerabilities (source)
- How Google tracks Android device users before they've even opened an app (source)
- Google fixes Android zero-day exploited by Serbian authorities (source)
- Google expands Android AI scam detection to more Pixel devices (source)
- Google Rolls Out AI Scam Detection for Android to Combat Conversational Fraud (source)
- BadBox malware disrupted on 500K infected Android devices (source)