Recently, in a campaign to identify malicious programs, Google removed 470 apps from the Play Store that stole personal information and applied scams. Want to know the details of this news? So follow this article and check it out!
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470 malicious apps are removed from the Play Store
The applications that were eliminated from the store were criminals, responsible for capturing cell phone data, including bank accounts to steal money. Thus, this action by Google is part of a major effort that has lasted two years, in partnership with several companies, to prevent cybercrime.
However, all identified apps had 105 million downloads by various users around the world before they were removed. Thus, the economic damage for all these people was calculated in millions of dollars.
Bandits used QR Code readers, digital currency wallets and game apps to apply the blows. According to calculations, it is estimated that 300,000 people have been victims of these malicious applications.
Although the programs worked smoothly at first, victims began to be charged for using the tool over time. This happened because, during registration, the user was redirected to a data entry page.
Then, without realizing it, people authorized a $15 monthly fee via Direct Carrie Billing (DCB). In this payment method, the amount is charged directly to the prepaid or postpaid cell phone account. Here are some of the malicious apps that have left the Play Store.
Examples of malicious apps
- 4K Wallpapers & HD Background;
- Best Mobile Games;
- Cast It;
- Connector Box Pro;
- Country Car 2021 Opulence Driving Game;
- DriveSimulator;
- Elite Soccer League Pro;
- Evo Driving Rover Club Pro;
- Football HERO 2021;
- Football Legends;
- Grand Mafia Auto;
- Magic Keyboard 3D;
- My Translator Pro;
- New Mobile Games;
- Photograph Labs Pro Drive Simulator;
- Pro Evolution Cars Plus;
- Smashex;
- Social Videogram Pro;
- Speedy Cars – Final Lap;
- StreamCast Pro;
- Stream HD;
- Ultimate Driving Simulator Pro;
- Ultra Bus Simulator 2021;
- UltraStream;
- Upgrade;
- VideoProj Lab;
- Vidly Vibe;
- vStudio Pro.
