Computer security researchers at McAfee installed 38 Android apps from the Play Store. According to the researchers, these applications include programs called “hidden ads”. This is able to display background ads.
These ads are not visible to the user. Not on screen…but the developers still generate ad revenue. This is a very common fraud. When an advertisement is pushed to a user’s smartphone, the developers receive revenue from the advertisers.
For their part, users don’t realize anything…or almost. More often than not, these hidden ads will actually do so slow down the smartphone Or cause blockage at an inappropriate time. If your phone suddenly freezes or performs poorly, you may have installed adware without your knowledge.
Also Read: Google Banned Over 1 Million Android Malware In 2022 But It’s Far From Enough To Secure The Play Store
List of 38 fraudulent Android apps
To sneak into their victims’ smartphone, the scammers slipped in “hidden ads” in android games code. These are the games that Minecraft action imitationthe popular game Mojang Studios, says McAfee. According to the American company, many mobile games have already copied this concept.
- Blockbox Master Diamond
- Fun Mini Sword Craft
- Blockbox Skyland Sword
- Craft the crazy monster sword
- Block Pro Forest Diamond
- Skyland Forest game block
- Dragon Sword Rainbow Block
- Craft Rainbow Mini Builder
- Block Forest Tree Crazy
- Castle Craft Clever Monster
- dragon diamond monster block
- Craft World Fun Robo
- Block Pixelart Tree Pro
- Craft Mini Lucky Fun
- Block Earth Skyland World
- block monster rainbow castle
- Block Fun Rainbow Builder
- Diamond dragon robo craft
- World tree monster block
- Block Diamond Boy Pro
- Block Lucky Master Earth
- Craft Forest Mini Fun
- Sword City Pro Craft
- Block Lucky Monster Builder
- Block Boy Earth Mini
- Block Crazy Builder City
- Pixelart sword handicraft
- Block City Fun Diamond
- Craft Loki Rainbow City
- Craft Boy Smart Sun
- Block City Dragon Sun
- Craft Loki Forest Monster
- Lokicraft: Forest Survival 3D
- Sun rain castle craft
- Earth world game craft
- Craft the Lucky Bunny castle
- Literal: Building City 2022
- Craft Rainbow Pro Rain
35 million smartphones were affected
Apparently, the scammers’ tactics have proven effective. Contains many games “hidden ads” It has passed the 10 million downloads mark. We think so More than 35 million Android smartphones The program is installed all over the world. In most cases, users did not notice the trap Because they can play the game..
“It is difficult for users to get rid of these hidden features, they can also easily trust games from official stores like Google Play Store”says McAfee.
McAfee Monitoring Experts “hidden ads” in countless different countries. Adware was also set in France And in many European countries.
The researchers quickly alerted Google Remove all fraudulent games from its Play Store. If you detect an app from the above list on your smartphone, we recommend that you delete it as soon as possible. Before installing an app, McAfee advises you to carefully read other users’ reviews on the Play Store. This reflex in general makes it possible to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Note that fraudulent apps, which only aim to generate advertising revenue on users’ backs, are regularly spotted on the platform. A few months ago, 85 similar apps had already been banned from the Play Store. Instead of hiding ads in the background, applications constantly displayed them on the smartphone screen, putting the patience of users to the test …
