Popular apps removed from Google Play due to malware

McAfee Mobile Security security experts have issued an alert where they report that they have discovered apps infected with malicious software. Detail: all apps were available for download on Google Play, the app store for android.

It is worth mentioning that the apps themselves were not created to be harmful, but later, malware managed to infiltrate them, making them dangerous.

To make matters worse, some of these apps have been downloaded thousands of times, meaning they may still be installed on multiple devices.

Fortunately, upon being notified of the risk, Google promptly deleted the apps from its app store, preventing the problem from spreading further.

Why are these apps dangerous?

When an app with this malware is downloaded onto your phone, criminals can snoop on your Wi-Fi history, see what apps you're using, and even get access to your locations via

GPS. That is, cybercriminals can have access to your entire online life, so to speak.

The malware detected in this wave of infected applications still allows hackers to practice fraud involving adverts. The infected app clicks on ads without you noticing, all in the background, while you use other tools on your phone.

List of infected apps removed from Google Play

Here are some of the apps that were excluded:

• Swipe Brick Breaker: + 10 million downloads;
• Pikicast: + 5 million downloads;
• Compass 9: Smart Compass: + 1 million downloads;
• Bounce Brick Breaker: + 1 million downloads;
• Infinite Slice: + 1 million downloads;
• SomNote – Beautiful note app: + 1 million downloads;
• UBhind: Mobile Tracker Manager: + 1 million downloads;
• Snake Ball Lover: + 100 thousand downloads;
• Inssaticon – Cute Emoticons, K: + 100 thousand downloads;
• T map for KT, LGU+: + 50 thousand downloads;
• Swipe Brick Breaker 2: + 10 thousand downloads;
• TNT: + 5 thousand downloads;
• InfinitySolitaire: + 1 thousand downloads.

Check out the complete list of excluded apps by clicking here.