16 apps that can damage your phone that you should remove immediately

In a recent report, security researchers at McAfee published a list of 16 malicious Android apps designed to scam users.

The apps have in common that they all contain Clicker, malicious code created to earn revenue from advertising. Once installed and launched, the malicious code installed on the application will stealthily visit bogus websites and simulate ad clicks without the victim’s knowledge.

Some malicious applications that users are advised to remove immediately from their phones if they have been updated before (Image: McAfee)

“This can consume mobile data, battery life without users’ awareness, and generate profits for the person behind it,” said McAfee security researcher SangRyol Ryu.

To avoid detection by users, the malware does not have any suspicious activity within the first hour after the application is downloaded and installed.

According to McAfee security researchers, this malicious behavior is cleverly concealed so as not to be detected.

These malicious apps are disguised as QR code scanners, notes, cameras, currency/unit converters, dictionaries, etc. to trick users into downloading and installing them.

These 16 malicious apps were downloaded more than 20 million times before being removed from the Google Play Store (Image: McAfee)

Before being removed from the Google Play Store by Google, these 16 malicious apps were downloaded more than 20 million times. Therefore, those who have downloaded and installed one of these 16 apps before should remove them from their phone immediately.

According to McAfee, here is a list of 16 malicious apps you should remove:

– High-Speed ​​Camera (com.hantor.CozyCamera), more than 10 million downloads

– Smart Task Manager (com.james.SmartTaskManager), more than 5 million downloads

– Flashlight+ (kr.caramel.flash_plus), over 1 million downloads

– (com.smh.memocalendar), more than 1 million downloads

– K-Dictionary (com.joysoft.wordBook), more than 1 million downloads

– BusanBus (com.kmshack.BusanBus), more than 1 million downloads

– Flashlight+ (com.candlencom.candleprotest), over 500,000 downloads

– Quick Note (com.movinapp.quicknote), more than 500,000 downloads

– Currency Converter (com.smartwho.SmartCurrencyConverter), over 500,000 downloads

– Joycode (com.joysoft.barcode), more than 100,000 downloads

– EzDica (com.joysoft.ezdica), more than 100,000 downloads

– Instagram Profile Downloader (com.schedulezero.instapp), more than 100,000 downloads

– Ez Notes (com.meek.tingboard), more than 100,000 downloads

– (com.candlencom.flashlite), more than 1,000 downloads

– (com.doubleline.calcul), more than 100 downloads

– Flashlight+ (com.dev.imagevault), more than 100 downloads

Not long ago, security researchers at McAfee also discovered a series of Android applications infected with HiddenAds, malicious code capable of automatically executing operations without user interaction.

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