S
Sean Camara
Guest
Malicious apps found on Google Play Store and Apple App Store: Remove them immediately!
The current cybersecurity landscape is one in which we must be constantly vigilant. There is a myriad of threats out there, ranging from simple viruses to more sophisticated attacks that can exploit vulnerabilities in our systems.
While there are many steps we can take to protect ourselves, it is important to remember that no system is perfect and that we must always be on the lookout for new and emerging threats.
One of the most common ways that people fall victim to cyberattacks is through malicious apps. These apps can often masquerade as legitimate programs, tricking people into downloading and installing them. Once on a person's system, these apps can wreak havoc, stealing sensitive data or even taking over the entire system.
Unfortunately, many people are still unaware of the dangers posed by malicious apps. This is especially true for those who are less tech-savvy or who are not familiar with the signs of a malicious app.
We understand that some of us are a little behind when it comes to technology and we're vulnerable to falling victim to these schemes.
So, we would like to share with you this fresh report about the new malicious apps that you should be on the lookout for.
Smartphone users are being warned of hundreds of malicious apps that can cause cybersecurity threats. Credit: Satori Threat Intelligence and Research Team.
Smartphone users have been warned by cyber security experts about a large number of dangerous apps that have been downloaded millions of times from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Warnings were raised by researchers from the Human Security Satori threat intelligence team in a recent report that exposed the involvement of roughly 80 distinct Android apps in an advertising fraud scheme.
The cyberattack started in 2019, but analysts think it has since grown because there are now nine apps connected to the App Store.
It was also said that cybercriminals pose a threat by utilising bots to take advantage of advertising platforms and marketers to swindle people.
The apps have been downloaded more than 13 million times, and Human Security cautions that the attack is still taking place.
The warning read: 'HUMAN and the Satori team continue to pursue the operation and its perpetrators.'
The apps have subsequently been taken down from app stores, the group added.
The researchers remarked: 'Even though HUMAN is monitoring the threat actors, they may update the apps to change how they work, so removing the apps is your best bet.'
'Consider reducing your risk of running dangerous apps by considering the source of the application and the trustworthiness of the brands involved.'
Once installed, the malicious apps can follow user data and affect other apps, causing them to record fictitious views for digital adverts.
The apps may also play hidden advertising that users cannot see and display out-of-context adverts, such as on a user's home screen when they should not.
If you have any of the apps on your smartphone that are listed below, you should immediately delete them.
The malicious apps that you should keep an eye out for include the following:
Android users
- Roll Turn (com.roll.turn.song.wusi.pt) - 1,000,000+ downloads
- Crush Car (com.crush.car.fly.delivery.lingjiu) - 1,000,000+ downloads
- Super Hero-Save the world! (com.asuper.man.playmilk) - 1,000,000 downloads
- Spot 10 Differences (com.different.ten.spotgames) - 1,000,000 downloads
- Dinosaur Legend (com.huluwagames.dinosaur.legend.play) - 1,000,000 downloads
- One Line Drawing (com.one.line.drawing.stroke.yuxi) - 1,000,000 downloads
- Shoot Master (com.shooter.master.bullet.puzzle.huahong) - 1,000,000 downloads
- Talent Trap - NEW (com.talent.trap.stop.all) - 1,000,000 downloads
- Find 5 Differences - New (com.find.five.subtle.differences.spot.new) - 1,000,000
- Helicopter Attack - NEW (com.helicopter.attack.shoot.sanba) - 500,000+ downloads
- Arrow Coins (com.helicopter.attack.shoot.sanba) - 500,000 downloads
- Parking Master (com.ekfnv.docjfltc.parking.master) - 500,000 downloads
- Shoot it: Using Gun (com.bullet.shoot.fight.gtommm.tom)- 500,000 downloads
- Super Flake (com.chop.slice.flake2020) - 500,000 downloads
- Five-Star Slice (com.five.star.slice) - 500,000 downloads
- Sand Drawing (com.sand.drawing.newfight) - 500,000 downloads
- Mr Dinosaur: Play your Dino (com.topggame.facego.finger.crazy.dino) - 500,000 downloads
- Track Sliding New (com.track3d.sliding.new) - 500,000 downloads
- Peter Shoot (com.ltc.peter.shoot.tslgame) - 100,000+ downloads
- Thief King (com.ltcking.thief.game.tsl) - 100,000+ downloads
- Spin: Letter Roll (come.letter.roll.race) - 100,000+ downloads
- Relx cash (com.tycmrelx.cash) - 100,000+ downloads
- Lady Run (com.lady.dress.run.sexylady) - 100,000 downloads
- Magic Brush 3D (com.magic.brush.gamesly) - 100,000 downloads
- Shake Shake Sheep (com.ldle.merge.free.coinspiggy) - 100,000 downloads
- Number Combination: Colored Chips (com.yigegame.jyfsmnq.gg) - 100,000 downloads
- Ztime: Earn cash rewards easily (com.pocky.ztime) - 100,000 downloads
- Lucky Wings - Lotto Scratchers (com.free.scratchers.luckywings) - 100,000 downloads
- Shake Shake Pig (com.ldle.merge.free.coinspiggy) - 100,000 downloads
- Lucky Money Tree (com.ldle.merge.lucky.moneytree) - 100,000 downloads
- Run And Dance (com.tap.run.and.dance) - 100,000 downloads
- Beat Kicker New (com.beat.kicker.two.game) - 100,000 downloads
- Fill Color 3D (com.cube.fill.color.paint.turn.fei) - 100,000 downloads
- Draw Live (com.draw.live.milipop)- 100,000 downloads
- Draw 1 Stroke (com.draw.one.line.stroke.xipi) - 100,000 downloads
- Fidget Cubes (com.fidget.cubes.feel.like) - 100,000 downloads
- Girls Fight (com.girls.fight.fly) - 100,000 downloads
- Ninja Assassin (com.knifeninja.assassin.dltc) - 100,000 downloads
- Shooting Puzzle 2020 (com.my.bullet.shooting.man.hunter.youxi) - 100,000 downloads
- Pulley Parkour (com.pul.parkour.bbroller) - 100,000 downloads
- Chop Flake 3D (com.slice.chop.superslice3d) - 100,000 downloads
- Weapon Fantasy (com.weapon.fantasy.games) - 100,000 downloads
- Bike Extreme Racing (com.bike.extreme.raceing.bikegames) - 50,000+ downloads
- Player Spiral Maker 3D (com.player.spiral.maker.d3) - 50,000+ downloads
- Scratch Carnival (com.scratchers.jackpot.luckypiggy) - 50,000 downloads
- Billionaire Scratch (com.free.tickets.scratchers.Billionaire) - 50,000 downloads
- Lucky Star: Lotto Scratch (com.free.tickets.scratchers.LuckyLotto) - 50,000 downloads
- Balloon Shooter (com.balloon.shooter.play) - 50,000 downloads
- Musical Shoot (com.ltcmusical.fun2021) - 50,000 downloads
- Chop Slices (com.lvdiao.chop.slices.chef) - 50,000 downloads
- Ninja Slice (com.slice.masked.games) - 50,000 downloads
- Work Now! (com.work.now.slack) - 50,000 downloads
- Draw Complete (com.ltcdraw.complete.fly) - 10,000+ downloads
- Draw a War (com.draw.war.army) - 10,000+ downloads
- Match 3 Tiles (com.blocks.tile.matching) - 10,000+ downloads
- 2048 Merge Cube - Win Cash (com.cube.merge.shooter) - 10,000+ downloads
- Pull Worm (com.pull.bugs.worm) - 10,000 downloads
- Shoot Dummy - Win Rewards & Paypal Cash (com.shoot.dummy.fast.speed.linger) - 10,000
- Bottle Jump (com.bottle.jump.flip.challenge.fun) - 10,000 downloads
- Corn Scraper (com.corn.scraper.cut.pipe.siling) - 10,000 downloads
- Idle Wood Maker (com.idle.wood.maker.gametwo)- 10,000 downloads
- Pop Girls Schooler (com.pop.girls.schooler)- 10,000 downloads
- Romy Rush (com.romy.rushrun)- 10,000 downloads
- Spear Hero (com.spear.super.man.hero) - 10,000 downloads
- Hiding Draw (com.hiding.drawltc.games) - 5000+ downloads
- Downhill Race (com.downhill.race.redbull) - 5000+ downloads
- Jackpot Scratcher-Win Real (com.physicswingsstudio.JackpotScratchers) - 5000 downloads
- Dig Road Balls (com.dig.road.balls.play.games.ygygame) - 5000 downloads
- Crowd Battle: Fight the bad guys (com.crowd.battle.goamy) - 5000 downloads
- Design n Road (com.ltcdesign.nroad) - 1000+ downloads
- Rescue Master (com.rescue.master.gear.mechanics.wushi) - 1000+ downloads
- Lucky Scratchers: Lotto Card (com.lotto.bingo.lucky.scratchcard) - 1000 downloads
- BOO Popstar (com.boostar.boo.popstar)- 1000 downloads
- Draw Complete A (com.darwa.completea.ltca)- 1000 downloads
- War in Painting (com.painting.war.inpaper) - 100+ downloads
- Rush 2048: 3D Shoot Cubes (com.rushcube.puzzle.block) - 100 downloads
- Auto Stamp Camera (com.stac.amper.qweaf) - 100+ downloads
- Meet Camera (com.magicvcam.hdmeet.cam008), n/a
- com.find.five.differences.lvye.xsl, n/a
- com.mufc.zwxfb, n/a
iPhone users
- Loot the Castle (com.loot.rcastle.fight.battle)
- Run Bridge (com.run.bridge.race)
- Shinning Gun (com.shinning.gun.ios)
- Racing Legend 3D (com.racing.legend.like)
- Rope Runner (com.rope.runner.family)
- Wood Sculpter (com.wood.sculptor.cutter)
- Fire-Wall (com.fire.wall.poptit)
- Ninja Critical Hit (wger.ninjacriticalhit.ios)
- com.TonyRuns.game
To help protect yourself from these threats, it is important to be aware of the most common ways that malicious apps can get on your system. We have collated the most common methods that could lead to you accidentally downloading these apps:
1. Downloading from untrustworthy sources: One of the most common ways that malicious apps make their way onto people's systems is through downloads from untrustworthy sources. This could be anything from downloading an app from a shady website to downloading a pirated copy of a program from a torrent site. It is important to only download apps from trusted sources, such as the official app store for your operating system.
2. Clicking on malicious links: Another common way that malicious apps make their way onto people's systems is through malicious links. These links can come in the form of email attachments, ads, or even links on social media. If you click on one of these links, you may be taken to a website that looks legitimate but is actually fake. This website may then prompt you to download and install a malicious app.
3. Opening email attachments from unknown senders: Another common way that malicious apps make their way onto people's systems is through email attachments from unknown senders. If you receive an email from an unknown sender with an attachment, do not open it. It is possible that the attachment could be a malicious app that, once opened, will install itself on your system.
4. Installing apps with permissions that are too broad: When you install an app, it will typically ask for permissions to access certain features on your device. Some apps will ask for permissions that are too broad, such as access to your contacts or your location. These permissions can be abused by malicious apps to steal your data or track your movements. Only install apps that you trust and that have permissions that are necessary for their intended purpose.
5. Connecting to public Wi-Fi networks: Another common way that malicious apps make their way onto people's systems is through public Wi-Fi networks. When you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, you are putting yourself at risk of being snooped on by someone else on the network. This means that if there is a malicious app on the network, it could intercept your data and steal sensitive information. Only connect to Wi-Fi networks that you trust.
By following these simple tips, you can help protect yourself from the dangers posed by malicious apps. Remember, cyberattacks are constantly evolving, so it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and to take steps to protect yourself.
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