Malicious applications with 38 million installs on Google Play have been removed; here's what you can do to ensure your device's security.
In a recent development, Google has taken down 224 malicious apps from the Google Play Store, following the discovery of an ad fraud campaign known as SlopAds. This ad fraud campaign, first uncovered by Human's Satori Threat Intelligence Team, has been generating over two billion fraudulent ad impressions and clicks every day, spanning across 228 countries.
The SlopAds apps, which have a mass-produced look and feel, imitate popular videogame and news sites. Upon installation, these apps download an encrypted configuration file. The configuration file, containing links to the scammers' ad fraud malware module, cashout servers, and a JavaScript payload, is decrypted and reassembled on a targeted device to form the FatModule malware.
Google has updated Android's built-in security app, Google Play Protect, to warn users to uninstall any of these malicious apps. It is advisable to heed this warning, as continuing to use these apps can put your device at risk.
The ad fraud campaign had over 38 million downloads in total, with the U.S., India, and Brazil generating the most ad impressions. The security researchers who uncovered the SlopAds campaign believe that the scammers behind this one will likely try something very similar soon.
It is essential to protect your device from such threats. Continuously loading random websites in the background can eat up mobile data and put unnecessary strain on a phone's battery and other components. Running one of the best Android antivirus apps alongside Google Play Protect can help protect against malware and viruses.
Moreover, it's crucial to safeguard your personal information. Hackers are using Google search results to spread fake apps filled with malware, and the best identity theft protection services include identity theft insurance which can range from anywhere from $1 million to $2 million.
As always, it's crucial to research the background of the apps you download, especially from professional social networks like LinkedIn, company press releases, cybersecurity conference presentations, and industry publications where team members' qualifications and experience are often detailed. By doing so, you can ensure that you're downloading apps from reputable sources and reduce the risk of downloading malicious software.
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