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.
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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 now removed around 17 Android applications from the 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 the Joker malware or also known as Bread malware. In its official blog, Zscaler says that the design of this spyware is in such a manner so as to steal SMS messages and contact lists.
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The firm also mentioned that the Joker malware also steals device information and silently signs up into the 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 stage of billing using the victims' WAP services
It has been observed that these malware-filled apps had been downloaded more than 120,000 times before Google could remove them from Play Store. All these applications were released on the platform this month with malicious content. It has been a task for users to detect such apps as they hide perfectly as needful applications, however, below is the list of all the 17 Android apps banned by Google for having malware.
17 android apps removed by Google on Play Store
- All Good PDF Scanner
- Mint Leaf Message-Your Private Message
- Unique Keyboard - Fancy Fonts & Free Emoticons
- Tangram App Lock
- Direct Messenger
- Private SMS
- One Sentence Translator - Multifunctional Translator
- Style Photo Collage
- Meticulous Scanner
- Desire Translate
- Talent Photo Editor - Blur focus
- Care Message
- Part Message
- Paper Doc Scanner
- Blue Scanner
- Hummingbird PDF Converter - Photo to PDF
- All Good PDF Scanner
This is not the first occurrence of such an incident as Google had been busy removing the batches of Joker Malware-supported applications from 2017. Till now Google has removed 1723 Joker Malware apps (since 2017, including the 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 Image ~ ZScaler
16:51 IST, September 28th 2020