One of the biggest tips to stay away from viruses on Android devices is not to download apps from unknown sources. However, some apps from the Play Store itself may contain malware. In this sense, an app to read QR Code that contained a virus may have infected around 10 million cell phones. Keep reading and find out about the virus apps on play store!
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App to read QR codes contained malware
The QR Code & Barcode Scanner app was highly rated in the store, however it contained a TeaBot. Thus, when downloading the app, the user received a notification with an update request. If he granted this permission, the malicious application also requested access to certain functions.
In this way, if the user granted all permissions, the application was able to view and control the devices' screens. In addition, it had access to important and confidential information such as verification codes, bank confirmation SMS, login credentials, among others.
TeaBot is no longer on the Play Store
Cybersecurity company Cleafy has filed a complaint about the app and it has since left the Google Play Store. However, it is possible that it is still in circulation through alternative stores.
How can malware be harmful to devices?
Malware is a remote resource used by hackers in order to access information on infected cell phones, such as bank details, messages and images. With this, criminals in possession of this information can commit fraud, steal money and jeopardize the lives of many people.
Other apps with viruses on the Play Store
This isn't the first time a Play Store app has been identified with malware. Last year, the Joker virus caused great concern as it infected applications such as Private Message, Print Scanner, Read Scanner, Saying Message, among others. Thus, there were around 30,000 installations in mid-2021.
Joker works from “fleeceware”, which are premium services that activate without the user's permission, and with that increase phone bills. Thus, the malware in question is a type of robot that helps to circumvent protections and deceive both application developers and users.
Anyway, be very careful before installing an application, even if it is in the official store of your cell phone, after all, as you can see, even the applications there can have viruses. So always read reviews and don't give permission for everything apps ask for.
