150 applications that Android users should delete immediately!
Google has banned a new set of apps from its Play Store, with a note that they must be removed immediately.
And it looks like another bad day for Android users, as Google has banned more than 100 apps from the popular Play Store.
The latest batch of apps to be removed from this market has been found online for displaying malicious malware dubbed "UltimaSMS".
According to Express, this SMS scam was able to sign unsuspecting users to premium services that could end up costing Android owners about $40 a month for nothing.
The scam was discovered by the tech experts at AVAST, as Google immediately blocked the apps as soon as it was notified of the threat.
However, this new ban may come too late for some, as they thought the apps were downloaded millions of times before they were removed.
To maximize success, apps served as common services including dedicated keyboards, QR code scanners, video and photo editors, spam call blockers, camera filters, and games.
According to AVAST, he also promoted the apps through ads on social networks, such as Tik Tok and Instagram, all of which helped boost their popularity.
Once downloaded, the apps immediately start checking the user's device location, IMEI, and phone number to determine the language in which the scam will be displayed. When the user opens the app, they are asked to enter their phone number and, in some cases, their email address as well, in order to use the apps advertised purposes. If transmission occurs, this step registers the user for a premium SMS subscription.
Jakob Vavra explained, “Apps are disguised as genuine by well-designed app profiles on the Play Store. These profiles feature attractive images, with well-written descriptions, and often have high review averages. However, when you take a look Insight, it has public privacy policy statements, features core developer profiles including public email addresses.Despite having high review averages, many users have many negative reviews from users who correctly identified the apps as scams Unfortunately, it appears that children are vulnerable to these scams, based on the reviews in the app's profiles."
AVAST says Android users should now disable premium SMS options with their networks to avoid falling victim to this scam.
In addition, they advise mobile users to check reviews carefully before downloading any apps, because scam apps often boost review averages, but written reviews are poor.
Even when you download an app, it's wise to keep personal information, such as phone numbers or email addresses, and only share it with apps you really trust.
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