Android users are being warned that there are 15 apps that should be deleted immediately if they are installed on their device.
A “Global Threat Exploiting Social Mechanics” has managed to install itself on over eight million phones, and if you are one of the many users who have been tricked into installing one or more of these apps, you may face financial loss as a victim of fraud.
Cybersecurity firm McAfee’s mobile research team has discovered a massive global increase in SpyLoan apps. The latter is a predatory loan app that targets Android users in various countries. These apps use social mechanics which is a form of manipulation in an attempt to trick users into revealing personal and sensitive information. It is also used to acquire additional mobile app licenses. McAfee has come up with the aforementioned 15 apps with eight million installs.
“Despite violating policies, these apps often pass app store review processes and are available on platforms such as Google Play, making them appear trustworthy.” -McAfee
SpyLoan apps try to attract victims by pretending to offer quick and flexible loans with low interest rates and easy requirements. By using time-limited agreements, scammers create a sense of urgency that traps victims and prevents them from taking a closer look at their actions.
These malicious apps use a back-end framework to control installed apps and transfer sensitive data from a phone, often in the background without the user knowing it’s happening. While SpyLoan malicious apps were previously installed on Android devices via sideloading from an alternative Android app store, these 15 apps came from the Google Play Store. Google has removed some of the 15 malicious apps, while others have been updated by developers to delete the threat.
Google recommends that you have Play Protect enabled which scans Android devices for apps infected with malware. The feature warns users about potentially harmful apps and may disable or remove such apps from a device.
Google says to look out for the following signs that your device may have been compromised:
-Notifications about a virus or an infected device
-The antivirus software you are using is no longer working or running
-Significant reduction in the operating speed of your device
-Significant, unexpected reduction in storage space on your device
-Your device stops working properly or completely
Source: techblog.gr
