20 dangerous apps you must delete now – Experts warn

• Posted on October 28, 2019
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

From Samsung to Huawei, Android smartphones are some of the most popular devices on the market. But if you use an Android device, you may want to double-check which apps you have installed.

Researchers from ESET have warned users about 42 dangerous apps that were previously available on the Google Play Store that contain adware – software that automatically displays adverts, even when the app is closed.

While these apps are longer available on the Google Play Store, they’ve amassed a whopping eight million downloads.

ESET has revealed the names of 21 of the apps, which include Free Radio FM Online, Flat Music Player and Heroes Jump (scroll down for list).

Worryingly, these apps have their code hidden under a package name ‘com.google.xxx’.

In a blog about the dangerous apps, Lukas Stefanko, a researcher at ESET, explained: “This trick – posing as a part of a legitimate Google service – may help avoid scrutiny. Some detection mechanisms and sandboxes may whitelist such package names, in an effort to prevent wasting resources.”

Thankfully, Google has now removed these apps from the Google Play Store, after ESET reported the issue.

Mr Stefanko added: “Sneaking unwanted or harmful functionality into popular, benign apps is a common practice among “bad” developers, and we are committed to tracking down such apps.

“We report them to Google and take other steps to disrupt malicious campaigns we discover.”

Dangerous apps you should delete now;

Smart Gallery

SaveInsta

Mini lite for Facebook

Freed Radio FM Online

Free Video Downloader

Free Social Video Downloader

File Downloader

Water Drink Reminder

Smart Notes for You

DU Recorder

Tank classic

Heroes Jump

Solucionario

Ringtone Maker

Video downloader

Ringtone Maker Pro

Basketball Perfect Shot

HikeTop+

MP4 video downloader

Flat Music Player

Free Top Video Downloader