There are currently a number of apps for Android smartphones that are infected. In total, these were downloaded almost 10 million times. You should therefore delete them as soon as possible and take a close look before downloading them in the future.
Doctor Web security researchers have found almost 30 adware Trojans in Android apps. The malware exploits Android’s “Show above other apps” feature or power saving mode whitelist to display ads constantly. This is not so dramatic in itself, but the advertising offers shown can also become dangerous.
The malware is particularly insidious: In order not to be recognized, the Trojans hide the icon of the affected app or replace it with a more inconspicuous one instead. An infected app like “Photo & Exif Editor” can quickly turn into a supposed system app like a SIM toolkit.
You should delete these apps
Although almost all affected apps have been removed from the Google Play Store, anyone who has previously downloaded them to their smartphone should delete the apps immediately – because they will not disappear from your phone by themselves! These are the following applications:
- Photo Editor: Beauty Filter (gb.artfilter.tenvarnist)
- Photo Editor: Retouch & Cutout (nineergysh.quickarttwo)
- Photo Editor: Art Filters (gb.paint.moonlightingnine)
- Photo Editor – Design Maker (gb.twentynine.redaktoridea)
- Photo Editor & Background Eraser (photoground.twentysixshot)
- Photo & Exif Editor (en.xnano.photoexifeditornine)
- Photo Editor – Filters Effects (hitopgop.sixtyeightgx)
- Photo Filters & Effects (de.sixtyonecollice.cameraroll)
- Photo Editor : Blur Image (de.instgang.fiftyggfife)
- Photo Editor : Cut, Paste (en.fiftyninecamera.rollredactor)
- Emoji Keyboard: Stickers & GIF (gb.crazykey.sevenboard)
- Neon Theme Keyboard (com.neonthemekeyboard.app)
- Neon Theme – Android Keyboard (com.androidneonkeyboard.app)
- Cashe Cleaner (com.cachecleanereasytool.app)
- Fancy Charging (com.fancyanimatedbattery.app)
- FastCleaner: Cashe Cleaner (com.fastcleanercashecleaner.app)
- Call Skins – Caller Themes (com.rockskinthemes.app)
- Funny Caller (com.funnycallercustomtheme.app)
- CallMe Phone Themes (com.callercallwallpaper.app)
- InCall: Contact Background (com.mycallcustomcallscrean.app)
- MyCall – Call Personalization (com.mycallcallpersonalization.app)
- Caller Theme (com.caller.theme.slow)
- Caller Theme (com.callertheme.firstref)
- Funny Wallpapers – Live Screen (com.funnywallpapaerslive.app)
- 4K Wallpapers Auto Changer (andromo.ssfiftylivesixcc)
- NewScrean: 4D Wallpapers (com.newscrean4dwallpapers.app)
- Stock Wallpapers & Backgrounds (stockeighty.onewallpapers)
- Notes – reminders and lists (com.notesreminderslists.app)
This case shows once again that caution is required before installing apps. Otherwise it may already be too late. It certainly won’t be the last time scammers upload malicious apps to the Play Store – the number of potential victims is just too tempting for that.
Therefore, check the provider if you are interested in an app. If this is rather unknown and the app is one of dozens of clones that do the same thing, skepticism is required.
