Warning to anyone with these ‘dangerous’ Android apps: ‘Delete them now’
Millions of people have downloaded apps which pose threats including ‘extortion, harassment and financial loss’, experts say.
Android phones are vulnerable to certain malicious apps which can appear on the Play Store for some time before being removed by Google.
Of these, a list of the 15 most-downloadedSpyLoan apps, also called ‘predatory loan apps’, has been compiled by cyber security firm McAfee.
Downloaded a combined total of 8 million times worldwide, these apps can control other apps and extract data from phones.
McAfee says the apps are either no longer on the Play Store or have been updated to become non-threatening, but many remain on users’ phones.
The 15 apps to delete on Android now
- Préstamo Seguro – Rápido, seguro
- Préstamo Rápido – Credit Easy
- ได้บาทง่ายๆ-สินเชื่อด่วน
- RupiahKilat-Dana cair
- ยืมอย่างมีความสุข – เงินกู้
- เงินมีความสุข – สินเชื่อด่วน
- KreditKu-Uang Online
- Dana Kilat-Pinjaman kecil
- Cash Loan-Vay tiền
- RapidFinance
- PrêtPourVous
- Huayna Money – Préstamo Rápido
- IPréstamos: Rápido Crédito
- ConseguirSol-Dinero Rápido
- ÉcoPrêt Prêt En Ligne
Even if you don’t have any of the applications installed, users should always be on the lookout for symptoms that your device may have malware.
They include alerts about a virus, anti-virus software you no longer use, a decrease in operating speed, a decrease in storage space, and your device failing to work.
Infected phones may also send emails or social media posts without your knowledge.
How to keep your phone safe from dangerous apps
- When downloading a new app, McAfee recommends reviewing it first with a critical eye – look for poor grammar in the app description, read the reviews and check whether the developer has published other apps that have been well reviewed, too.
- Avoid using any apps that require accessibility services unless there is a genuine need for use.
- Ensure that your mobile device is protected with comprehensive security solutions that include features to monitor and block potentially malicious links and apps.
- And as always, never click on suspicious links in messages or emails, even if they say you must act urgently. This is a common ploy by cybercriminals. If you are unsure whether it is legitimate or not, contact the company directly.
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