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Despite Google’s best efforts, cybercriminals still malicious app It is saved to the Play Store and remains there undetected.
According to reports peepee computerRemote Access Trojan (mouse) The app called VajraSpy was found in 12 malicious apps, but only 6 of them were Google Play Store. The remaining six were distributed through unofficial third-party app stores.
No matter where you download these malicious apps from, once they get into any of the locations, best android smartphones, installs VajraSpy malware. It is able to extract victim’s contacts, text messages, call logs, device location information, list of installed apps, photos, PDFs, documents, and other files with specific extensions.
Here’s everything you need to know about this latest malicious app, including how to remove them from your Android smartphone.
Delete these apps now
according to new report From a cyber security company ESET, the six malicious apps found on the Play Store have now been removed. However, they were up on Google’s app store and available for download for over two years, from April 2021 to September 2023.
These apps have now been removed, but if you were tricked into installing them in the first place, you will need to manually uninstall them from your device. Below you will find all 12 malicious apps and where they are downloaded from.
- Rafa cut – play store
- private talk – play store
- meet me – play store
- Let’s chat – play store
- quick chat – play store
- Chatting – play store
- hello chat – Third party app store
- Yahoo Talk – Third party app store
- tick talk – Third party app store
- Nidas – Third party app store
- glow chat – Third party app store
- wave chat – Third party app store
As ESET points out, Wave Chat is the most dangerous of these malicious ones because it exploits Android functionality. accessibility services. When the app starts, it asks the user to grant additional permissions. Once this is done, the app can record calls, record WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram calls, record keystrokes, take photos using your device’s camera, record audio, and scan for Wi-Fi networks. can.
From romance scams to malware infections
So how did the cybercriminals behind these malicious apps trick victims into downloading and installing them in the first place? According to ESET research on the issue, this is romance scam It lures potential victims into installing these malware-laden apps.
If you’ve used any of these, best dating apps Previously, you may have encountered a potential match trying to persuade you to leave the app and use another platform. The average person might ask you to switch from dating apps to texting or communicating on WhatsApp, but if someone asks you to download, install, and chat with an app you’ve never heard of, you could be in danger of a romance scam. That’s a sure sign. in front.
Scammers and cybercriminals can fall into this situation if they have already latched onto a potential victim, especially if they think the person on the other end of the phone is genuinely interested in them. For this reason, you should always use extreme caution if the person you are courting on the Match Girl app asks you to switch to another app or service. However, if you are sent a link to download an app, the best course of action is to do it right away. Do not click on any links under any circumstances.
Even if the link doesn’t take you to a third-party app store. Phishing page It is designed to steal your credentials and even your money. As difficult as it is to date in person these days, if you don’t want to get scammed when looking for love, meeting people in real life rather than online may be a better option.
How to protect yourself from Android malware
The first and most important thing you can do to avoid malicious apps and Android malware is to limit the number of apps on your phone and be careful when installing new apps.
Instead, we recommend using official app stores such as Google Play Store, Amazon Appstore, or Samsung Galaxy Store. Sideloading apps. Apps downloaded as APK files from third-party app stores do not undergo the same level of security checks as apps distributed through official app stores. However, malicious apps can slip through the cracks, so it’s a good idea to limit the number of apps across your phone. Even a good app can go bad..
Fortunately, Google Play Protectcomes pre-installed on most Android smartphones and automatically scans all existing apps and new apps you download for malware. However, for added protection, you may also consider one of the following: Best Android antivirus app Many of them include VPN or password manager Alongside malware protection.
A Google spokesperson provided further insight into this latest malicious app in an email to Tom’s Guide:
“We take security and privacy complaints against our apps seriously and take appropriate action if we find that an app violates our policies. All reported apps will be posted to Google Play. None. Users are protected by Google Play Protect. Users of apps known to exhibit this malicious behavior on Android devices with Google Play services are advised to Please alert me even if it comes from a source other than Play.”
However, this won’t be the last time we see malicious apps used to attack Android users, as cybercriminals are always coming up with new ways to distribute malware. However, by being careful, especially when talking to strangers online, and following the guidance above, you should be able to avoid malicious apps and keep you and your data safe.
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