Published 16:51 IST, September 28th 2020

Google vs Joker Malware: Google removes 17 more apps from Play Store; total now at 1723

Google has recently removed 17 new applications that have been found to support Joker Malware which does a WAP billing fraud, from the Play Store. Read more.

Reported by: Yash Tripathi
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It is considered essential given Google's prominence that it hold its users' safety and security sacred at all times, and in a presumed effort to ensure this it has w removed around 17 Android applications from Play Store. This move to remove apps came after a security research firm ZScaler revealed that 17 apps on Google Play Store were infected with Joker malware or also kwn as Bread malware. In its official blog, Zscaler says that design of this spyware is in such a manner so as to steal SMS messs and contact lists.

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firm also mentioned that Joker malware also steals device information and silently signs up into victim's smartphone for premium wireless application protocol (WAP) services. This information was given by a Zscaler security researcher who also explained how this virus works until its final st of billing using victims' WAP services 

It has been observed that se malware-filled apps had been downloaded more than 120,000 times before Google could remove m from Play Store. All se applications were released on platform this month with malicious content. It has been a task for users to detect such apps as y hide perfectly as needful applications, however, below is list of all 17 Android apps banned by Google for having malware.

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17 android apps removed by Google on Play Store

  • All Good PDF Scanner
  • Mint Leaf Mess-Your Private Mess
  • Unique Keyboard - Fancy Fonts & Free Emoticons
  • Tangram App Lock
  • Direct Messenger
  • Private SMS
  • One Sentence Translator - Multifunctional Translator
  • Style Photo Coll
  • Meticulous Scanner
  • Desire Translate
  • Talent Photo Editor - Blur focus
  • Care Mess
  • Part Mess
  • Paper Doc Scanner
  • Blue Scanner
  • Hummingbird PDF Converter - Photo to PDF
  • All Good PDF Scanner

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This is t first occurrence of such an incident as Google had been busy removing batches of Joker Malware-supported applications from 2017. Till w Google has removed 1723 Joker Malware apps (since 2017, including 17 banned recently) and such apps keep emerging on Play Store. A batch of 6 applications with Joker malware support was also found earlier this month by security researchers from Pradeo that were removed by Google immediately. 

Promo Im ~ ZScaler

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16:51 IST, September 28th 2020