Regardless of your level of technical expertise, smartphone users are accustomed to downloading different apps to perform various tasks. In most cases, the software can enhance your device’s capabilities, allowing you to do everything from social media posting and organizing recipes to checking up-to-the-minute weather information and avoiding traffic jams while running errands. . This has helped make the market very crowded, with the Google Play Store offering 3.48 million apps and the Apple App Store offering 2.22 million programs available for download in early 2021, according to Statista. And despite the huge range of products available, the two companies are having a lot of trouble to ensure that their products and software can be used safely. But now Google has given an urgent warning that affects more than a million Android users. Read the rest to see if you are concerned by the last risk of security.
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Despite the tech giant’s best efforts, Android phones have been no stranger to new security threats in recent months, especially when it comes to app or software downloads. Last month, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky announced that it discovered three apps in the Google Play store that contain Trojan-type hacking software known as “Jocker”. After impersonating another popular or well-known program, unsuspecting users who download the malware can rack up expensive bills when cybercriminals subscribe to various expensive subscriptions to other services.
In April, another app-related security issue came to light when financial cybersecurity firm ThreatFabric announced in a blog post that it had discovered a new version of an infamous Android malware known as of “Octo”. The notorious program allows crooks to fully take care of all the devices that install it, allowing them to commit identity theft or steal from other sensitive material information. And in March, Google announced it had banned dozens of apps from its Google Play Marketplace after a private investigation found that a company involved in their development had designed them to covertly collect and transmit data about users. users who had downloaded them, The Wall Street Journal reported. But now experts have discovered another potentially serious threat linked to the devices.
On June 14, the Dr. Web antivirus company announced that it had discovered a popular app on the Google play store containing potentially dangerous malware, The sun reports. The program, known as PIP Pic Camera Photo Editor, was downloaded by over a million Android users before Google discovered the threat and blocked access to the program earlier this week. However, the cyber company warns that those who still have the program installed on their devices are still at risk of identity theft from the nefarious software.
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According to Dr. Web, Android users who unwittingly download the app thinking they can use it to edit photos are actually installing malware that steals their Facebook login credentials, including their username. and their password. Cybercriminals then use information to commit online identity fraud, access other accounts and send scam messages to the victim’s contacts, The sun reports.
But although the camera editor application was the most popular Trojan-style program discovered by the antivirus company, it was not the only one. Investigations also revealed that more than half a million users have each downloaded the Wild & Exotic Animal Wallpaper and ZodiHoroscope programs, which run battery-draining ads and steal victims’ Facebook credentials, respectively, reports. the SecNews IT website. Fifty thousand users have also downloaded PIP Camera 2022 which also works as Facebook account hacker software. And 10,000 Android users installed adware disguised as the Magnifier Flashlight app.
Although Google has since removed some of the affected apps from its Play Market and blocked downloads of others, anyone who installed the programs on their devices could be at risk, Dr. Web experts warn. They advise to immediately delete the software and run an antivirus analysis of any phone to ensure that malware is completely deleted. Users should also secure their Facebook accounts by changing their passwords immediately.
Experts warn that while the best way to avoid accidentally downloading malware is to stick to official app markets like the App Store and Play Store, some threats can still slip through the cracks. net. Reporting the results of its survey last month, Kaspersky recommended always reading user reviews of programs before downloading them. They also suggest being careful about the permissions you give to new apps, warning to “allow notification access only to apps that need it to fulfill their purposes, for example, to forward notifications to devices. apps for something like themed wallpapers or photo editing doesn’t need access to your notifications.”
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