Security News > 2023 > April > Android Minecraft clones with 35M downloads infect users with adware
A set of 38 Minecraft copycat games on Google Play infected devices with the Android adware 'HiddenAds' to stealthily load ads in the background to generate revenue for its operators.
Minecraft is a popular sandbox game with 140 million monthly active players, which numerous game publishers have attempted to recreate.
The Minecraft-like games hiding adware were downloaded by roughly 35 million Android users worldwide, mainly from the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Brazil.
Those users didn't notice the malicious adware activity conducted in the background, as they could play the games as promised.
The adware set was discovered by McAfee's Mobile Research Team, a member of the App Defense Alliance created to protect Google Play from all types of threats.
While adware apps aren't considered particularly dangerous for users, it can reduce the performance of a mobile device, raise privacy concerns, and even potentially create security loopholes that might expose users to nastier infections.