Remove these 16 malware-laden apps from your phone right now

A small collection of 16 apps laden with malware have been discovered and now removed on Google Play Store. These apps have been assumed to have over 20 million installations and are making their creators a lot of money. If you have any of these apps, it is advised you uninstall them right now.

What’s the malware
Unlike malwares that steals a user’s private and personal data, this particular malware starts browsing websites in the background to generate fake views and clicks. With this background task, the phone’s battery drops and the user won’t even know the reason for it. In return to the fake views and clicks on advertisements, the malware helps in generating extra revenue for the developers.

Apps with ad-clicker malware
The apps are dominantly masquerading as useful utility applications like Flashlight (Torch), QR readers, Camara, Unit converters, and Task managers. One of those apps is DxClean and its description reads that it is a “system cleaner and optimiser”. The app has more than five million instals so there’s a high possibility it is on your phone right now.

Once an app with ad-clicker malware is installed and opened, it downloads its remote configuration by executing an HTTP request. The app looks like well-made Android software but is working on something else in the background. It also mimics the user’s behaviour so that ad networks do not flag it and block revenues for automated and bot clicks.

What to do if you are affected
Leave your phone idle for an hour or so. If you witness a huge power draw from your mobile or tablet, or a drop in performance, you should uninstall recently-downloaded apps.

McAfee, which spotted the malware-laden apps on Google Play Store, says that the apps are no longer available on the app store for download. However, those users who have one or some of these apps installed on their phones will have to remove them manually and delete any associated data.

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A small collection of 16 apps laden with malware have been discovered and now removed on Google Play Store. These apps have been assumed to have over 20 million installations and are making their creators a lot of money. If you have any of these apps, it is advised you uninstall them right now.

What’s the malware
Unlike malwares that steals a user’s private and personal data, this particular malware starts browsing websites in the background to generate fake views and clicks. With this background task, the phone’s battery drops and the user won’t even know the reason for it. In return to the fake views and clicks on advertisements, the malware helps in generating extra revenue for the developers.

Apps with ad-clicker malware
The apps are dominantly masquerading as useful utility applications like Flashlight (Torch), QR readers, Camara, Unit converters, and Task managers. One of those apps is DxClean and its description reads that it is a “system cleaner and optimiser”. The app has more than five million instals so there’s a high possibility it is on your phone right now.

Once an app with ad-clicker malware is installed and opened, it downloads its remote configuration by executing an HTTP request. The app looks like well-made Android software but is working on something else in the background. It also mimics the user’s behaviour so that ad networks do not flag it and block revenues for automated and bot clicks.

What to do if you are affected
Leave your phone idle for an hour or so. If you witness a huge power draw from your mobile or tablet, or a drop in performance, you should uninstall recently-downloaded apps.

McAfee, which spotted the malware-laden apps on Google Play Store, says that the apps are no longer available on the app store for download. However, those users who have one or some of these apps installed on their phones will have to remove them manually and delete any associated data.

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