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October 27, 2020
The Avast team has discovered another set of malicious apps found in the Google Play Store. This time around, the apps in question are 21 gaming apps full of hidden adware. The code is part of the HiddenAds family. According to SensorTower, a mobile app marketing intelligence and knowledge company, apps have been downloaded about eight million times so far.
HiddenAds malware masquerades as a fun or useful application; in this case, games that basically promise to “fly the car over the road, trees, hills”, shoot criminals from a helicopter or practically iron clothes, but actually exist to deliver intrusive ads outside the application. They also often hide their icons, so they can’t be removed, and they hide behind relevant looking ads, making them difficult to identify.
List of 21 malicious apps found on Google Play
- Shoot him
- Crush Car
- Scroll scroll
- Helicopter Attack – NEW
- Assassin Legend – 2020 NEW
- Shooting by helicopter
- Rugby pass
- Flying skateboard
- Iron it
- Shooting run
- Monster plant
- Find hidden
- Find 5 Differences – 2020 NEW
- Rotate shape
- Jump Jump
- Find the Differences – Puzzle Game
- Sway Man
- Money Destroyer
- Desert Against
- Cream Trip – NEW
- Saving props
Google removed 15 of the 21 Android apps from the official Play Store over the weekend.
Click here for the full list of HiddenAd applications
While Google is doing its best to prevent HiddenAds from entering its Play Store, malicious apps continue to find new ways to disguise their true purpose, thereby slipping onto the platform and then onto users’ phones. Users should be vigilant when downloading applications to their phones and it is recommended to check the applications profile, reviews and consider extended device permission requests.
Although the adware is hidden by design, there are steps each person can take to protect themselves and their families.
Really read the reviews
If an app is a scam, it is likely that other users have already noticed and left negative feedback. So take a look and pay special attention to the bad ones.
And with the latest round of HiddenAd apps, the Avast team noted that app developers have more apps, with very few downloads and reviews, but the handful of reviews they have are extremely positive and enthusiastic, which can also be a sign that something is happening. suspicious “.
Ask yourself: why does it cost so much?
Rule of thumb: If the price seems oddly high for what you’re getting, it’s probably a scam.
“Many of these applications offer basic or unrealistic features, such as simple games that claim to surprise players, or wallpapers for around $ 8, a high amount considering other developers often offer games and features like this for free. “.
Check permissions
Do you know how apps work for a variety of permissions, including accessing your camera, file, location, etc., when you first use them? This is because they need such permissions to deliver any promised service. So, for example, Instagram needs access to your camera so you can take photos in the app.
Unfortunately, a classic way for criminals to access our devices is to request permissions they don’t need. It’s against the rules of Google and Apple, but some still escape, as we can see in this case.
So instead of just tapping “Allow”, the next time a new app asks for certain permissions, take a minute to think about whether you really need that access. Do you need a weather app to access your microphone? No Do you need a wallpaper app to access your storage? No, this is a sign that the app is probably a scam.
Talk about download safety
These scammers intentionally target places where young people meet, like YouTube and TikTok, because young people are generally good targets for this type of scam. This means that talking to your kids about download safety is essential.
Find out the signs of scam apps and then share this information with your kids. You might also consider setting up a rule to allow your kids to get permission before downloading anything, not only to avoid scams but also to “avoid potential unnecessary costs,” Avast employees say.
Origin: New malware applications on Google Play | Avast
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