Security News > 2022 > November > Malicious Android apps with 1M+ installs found on Google Play
At the time of publishing, the apps are still present on Google Play under a developer account called Mobile apps Group, and have a total install count of more than one million.
According to a report from Malwarebytes, the same developer was exposed twice in the past for distributing adware on Google Play but it was allowed to continue publishing apps after submitting cleaned versions.
The apps don't have favorable reviews on Google Play and many users left comments about intrusive ads that open automatically in new browser tabs.
By monitoring the activity of the software from Mobile apps Group, Malwarebytes found that the apps have a 72-hour delay before showing the first ad or opening a phishing link in the web browser, and then continue to launch more tabs with similar content every two hours.
To keep adware away from your device, avoid installing apps from unofficial Android stores.
If you have one of the above apps present on your Android device, it is recommended to remove them and run a full system scan using Play Protect or a mobile antivirus suite from a reputable vendor.
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