Security News > 2023 > April > Android malware infiltrates 60 Google Play apps with 100M installs
A new Android malware named 'Goldoson' has infiltrated Google Play through 60 legitimate apps that collectively have 100 million downloads.
The malicious malware component is part of a third-party library used by all sixty apps that the developers unknowingly added to their apps.
McAfee is a Google App Defense Alliance member that helps keep Google Play clean from malware/adware threats.
Many of the affected apps were cleaned by their developers, who removed the offending library, and those that didn't respond in time had their apps removed from Google Play for non-compliance with the store's policies.
Google confirmed the action to BleepingComputer, stating that the apps violated Google Play policies.
"The safety of users and developers are at the core of Google Play. When we find apps that violate our policies, we take appropriate action," Google told BleepingComputer.
News URL
Related news
- Free VPN apps on Google Play turned Android phones into proxies (source)
- PixPirate Android malware uses new tactic to hide on phones (source)
- Hackers Using Sneaky HTML Smuggling to Deliver Malware via Fake Google Sites (source)
- Google's new AI search results promotes sites pushing malware, scams (source)
- Apps secretly turning devices into proxy network nodes removed from Google Play (source)
- Vultur banking malware for Android poses as McAfee Security app (source)
- Google Warns: Android Zero-Day Flaws in Pixel Phones Exploited by Forensic Companies (source)
- Google rolls out new Find My Device network to Android devices (source)
- SoumniBot malware exploits Android bugs to evade detection (source)
- Google ad impersonates Whales Market to push wallet drainer malware (source)