Security News > 2022 > July > New Android malware apps installed 10 million times from Google Play

A new batch of malicious Android apps filled with adware and malware was found on the Google Play Store that have been installed close to 10 million times on mobile devices.

If you installed any of these apps before their removal from the Play Store, you will still need to uninstall them from your device manually and run an AV scan to clean any remnants.

The adware apps discovered by Dr. Web are modifications of existing families that first appeared on the Google Play Store in May 2022.

The full list of adware apps can be found at the bottom of the article, but one notable example still on the Play Store is 'Neon Theme Keyboard,' which has over a million downloads despite the 1.8-star score and many negative reviews.

These apps are 'YouToon - AI Cartoon Effect' and 'Pista - Cartoon Photo Effect,' which have been collectively downloaded over 1.5 million times via the Play Store.

Roid malware will always find a way to creep into the Google Play Store, and sometimes apps can stay there for several months, so you should not blindly trust any app can blindly trust no apps.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-android-malware-apps-installed-10-million-times-from-google-play/