As part of a process of debugging content in the Google Digital Store, the Play Store has announced that it has found programs of all the people who managed to download them when they were available on the platform.
Despite the traditional controls of security with the Play Store, reviews are made each season to confirm that available apps meet security requirements and do not include viruses or malware. However, there are certain occasions when apps skip the controls and remain open to the public for a while.
In the last review done by the Google store they were found 8 applications specifically that they would be transmitting a dangerous ransomware virus called ‘Joker ‘, Which would be taking control of cell phones silently to gain access to users’ personal information and take partial control of SIM cards.
This specific virus would be registering users to several SMS payment services as a long-term theft scheme by which he would be swindling several people without them realizing it. A notable detail of these cases can be seen in the message log of the device or, for added security, in the bills of payments for telephone services as payments to unrecognized subscriptions will be found.
The applications recognized as potentially dangerous that have the ransomware mentioned would be the following:
– Auxiliary message
– Element Scanner
– Fast magic SMS
– Free CamScanner
– Go messages
– Super message
– Super SMS
– Travel wallpaper
For users who have downloaded any of the applications listed it is recommended immediately remove the software in question and all the data of the same that are present in the telephone. You need to make sure that both the executable program and the APK file be completely removed so that the device is not in danger of being scammed.
On the other hand, the cybersecurity company Zscaler He also mentioned that this same virus could be present in other apps that can still be found in the store, which would be:
– Free affluent message
– PDF Photo Scanner
– Deluxe keyboard
– Complete the QR scanner
– PDF Converter Scanner
– Font style keyboard
– Translate for free
– Saying the message
– Private message
– Read the scanner
– Print scanner
As a preventive measure the most relevant thing in case of having such applications on the phone is to perform the same process of complete deletion of related data. In addition, if you want to make sure you remove the virus completely from your device, it is also advisable to install and use antivirus such as Avast Mobile Security, Kaspersky O Esetnod32 which are also available for the Android operating system.
Finally, it is advisable as a digital security habit to always check that the source of an application is reliable before downloading it, as well as to review reviews and comments to make sure that the number of downloads is from real people and not of bots used to position it in the store. There are many types of malware that are not noticeable to the naked eye so it is best not to risk important information to download unreliable programs.