Popular apps have been pulled from the Google Play store, and users of Android devices are being asked to do so right away.
Millions of users have downloaded the harmful apps, which pose as questionnaire, fitness, or gaming apps and lure users into accepting bogus incentives or clicking on links that take them to dubious websites.
The most recent apps that were banned offered prizes to users for remaining active by giving them points for walking and working out. However, when individuals attempted to pay out, they were either prevented from doing so or have to watch interminable commercials for no reason.
Cybersecurity experts at Dr.Web flagged these apps, some of which already had millions of downloads before being booted from the Play store.
As reported by the Express, the apps that have recently flagged by the IT cybersecurity firm are:
- Lucky Step: Walking Tracker – 10 million downloads
- WalkingJoy: walking tracker – 5 million downloads
- Lucky Habit: health tracker – 5 million downloads
Despite being flagged for using the same tactics as the other two, Lucky Habit has not been removed from the app store at this time.
It comes after 10 more apps were also axed for the Google store, in this instance due to bad links that downloaded malware, or direct users to dodgy websites.
According to Dr.Web, these fake applications presented themselves as investing software, directories, questionnaires and addictive games. They are as follows:
- Golden Hunt – 100K downloads
- Reflector – 100K downloads
- Seven Golden Wolf blackjack – 100K downloads
- Unlimited Score – 50K downloads
- Big Decisions – 50K downloads
- Jewel Sea – 10K downloads
- Lux Fruits Game – 10K downloads
- Lucky Clover – 10K downloads
- King Blitz – 5K downloads
- Lucky Hammer – 1Kdownloads
All of these apps have already been removed from the Play Store, but if you have one of them on your device it should be deleted right away.
According to Dr.Web for Android’s detection statistics, the activity of spyware, trojans, and adware surged in December 2022.
Hundreds of bogus apps and trojans that sign their victims up for premium services were among the several new risks they discovered at the same time on Google Play.
Google Pixel Watch 5 (45mm)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
Keep Reading
Some Android Police readers and Reddit users are running into a Google Messages RCS issue after switching to a new Samsung phone, according to Android Police. RCS messaging is failing to connect for a number of Samsung device owners, though it’s unclear exactly how widespread the problem is. Users have been describing the issue on […]
Android 17 QPR2 App lock is arriving as a native Pixel feature in Beta 3, according to 9to5Google. The addition sits alongside the release’s visual changes, and the finished QPR2 update is scheduled for December. Long-pressing an app opens the Actions menu, where “App lock” appears at the bottom alongside App info, Pause app, Widgets, […]
After the official shutdown of Samsung Messages, Google Messages is now likely the only major texting app remaining for Android users. It offers important capabilities like RCS support, end-to-end encryption, and more; however, it has been missing two basic yet important features. Fortunately, both appear headed for release soon, having reportedly surfaced in the app’s […]
Google Messages has been on a tear lately when it comes to new features, which makes sense given that Samsung shut down its own Messages app on July 6. There are clearly some big shoes to fill here, and Google has been polishing things up quickly as a result. Individually, plenty of these tweaks are […]
After years of anticipation and months of groundwork, WhatsApp has begun rolling out username reservations worldwide today, letting users claim a unique handle ahead of the privacy-focused feature’s full launch later this year. WhatsApp username reservations are now rolling out Starting today, users will begin receiving an in-app notification when the reservation option becomes available […]
Android Auto has always been about bringing your phone’s most useful features to the car’s display – navigation, music, calls, messages. But beyond the obvious staples, there’s a growing library of compatible apps that quietly expand what the platform can do. Some arrive with a formal announcement; others just appear. Adobe Acrobat Reader falls into […]
Comments & Discussions
Join the conversation! We use Disqus to handle comments. Click the button below to load the comment section.