Google has recently removed about 15 of the 21 Android applications that can be downloaded through the official PlayStore over the span of the weekend following a report coming from the Czech antivirus maker known as Avast. The security firm stated that the apps were in fact infected with a particular type of malware that is known as the HiddenAds, reported by McAfee.

How was the Adware Malware spread like wildfire?

This type of malware was discovered back in 2019. The said Android adware strain actually operates by showing the excessive and intrusive ads and also by opening the mobile browsers on certain ad-heavy or promotional pages.

In a recent report published by Avast, their analyst known as Jakub Vavra stated that the apps have mimicked popular games, and the particular criminal group that is operating behind the scene relied on the given social media ads as well as strategic marketing in order to get players to head to their Play Store pages.

Once the said application is installed within any of the apps, the HiddenAds malware would then hide the said app's icon and proceed to bombarding users with their ads.

ZDNet published a list of the 21 apps that were mentioned:

Shoot Them

1,000,000

Rolling Scroll

1,000,000

Crush Car

1,000,000

Helicopter Attack - NEW

1,000,000

Helicopter Shoot

500,000

Assassin Legend - 2020 NEW

500,000

Flying Skateboard

500,000

Rugby Pass

500,000

Iron it

100,000

Plant Monster

100,000

Shooting Run

100,000

Find 5 Differences - 2020 NEW

100,000

Find Hidden

100,000

Jump Jump

100,000

Rotate Shape

100,000

Sway Man


100,000

Money Destroyer

100,000

Find the Differences - Puzzle Game

100,000

Desert Against

50,000

Props Rescue

10,000

Cream Trip - NEW

10,000

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Already hitting 7 million users: out of the 21 apps, 6 remain

Currently, there are six out of the 21 apps that are still very much available on PlayStore. The apps that are still there are Helicopter Shoot, Shoot Them, Rotate Shape, Find 5 Differences - 2020, Cover art Find the Difference - Puzzle Game, and also Money Destroyer.

Avast stated that all of the apps were in fact downloaded by a total of over seven million users even before it previously filed its general report along with Google last week.

Vavra stated that it is easy to fall for the apps on the list and install one on your device, but there are a few patterns and giveaways that can actually help users identify if the app is possibly malicious.

The said apps have still been spreading like wildfire which is alarming for security companies. Luckily, data has been collected regarding which apps that pose a red flag on the security companies and out of the 25, there have already been a few that were taken down.

Although not all of the apps have been dealt with, six apps out of the total 21 apps are still pretty impressive considering that this was done as an immediate response to the supposed threat.

 

Related Article: NSA List Shows Chinese Hackers Exploiting 25 Different Security Bug Vulnerabilities

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Written by Urian Buenconsejo

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