Researchers from ZScaler have warned about 17 harmful apps that are stealing your private data including your SMS messages, contact lists, and device information.
The research concluded that the apps contain a type of malware called Joker. “Joker is one of the most prominent malware families that continually targets Android devices.”
“Despite awareness of this particular malware, it keeps finding its way into Google’s official application market by employing changes in its code, execution methods, or payload-retrieving techniques.” ZScaler researcher Viral Gandhi explained in a blog post.
Although Google has since removed the 17 apps from the Google Play Store, they had already been downloaded 120,000 times and if you have any of them you need to uninstall now.
The 17 dangerous android apps
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
