Google has recently issued a warning to Android users about 13 apps that have been identified as malicious and should be deleted immediately. These apps have been found to contain malware that can potentially compromise your device and steal sensitive information.
The malware, dubbed Xamalicious by McAfee, is implemented with Xamarin, an open-source framework that allows building Android and iOS apps with .NET and C#. Once installed, a malicious app tries to gain accessibility privileges with social engineering and then it communicates with the command-and-control server to evaluate whether or not to download a second-stage payload. If the second-stage payload is installed, it can take full control of your device, meaning it has the potential to perform any type of activity like a spyware or banking trojan without user interaction.
The following is a list of the 13 malicious apps that you should delete immediately:
- Essential Horoscope for Android (om.anomenforyou.essentialhoroscope)
- Free VPN Master - Fast secure proxy VPN (com.freevpn.profastvpn)
- Free VPN Proxy - Super VPN Unblock Master (vpn.unblock.proxy.vpnmaster)
- Free VPN Unlimited Proxy - Proxy Master (com.freevpn.unblock.proxy.vpnmaster)
- Free VPN – Super VPN Proxy, Best Free VPN (com.supervpn.freevpn)
- Hotspot VPN - Free Unlimited Super VPN Proxy (com.supervpn.freevpn)
- Hotspot VPN Pro - Free Unlimited Super VPN Proxy (com.supervpn.provpn)
- Secure VPN - Free VPN Proxy, Best & Fast Shield (com.fast.free.unblock.secure.vpn)
- Secure VPN Pro - Free VPN Proxy, Best & Fast Shield (com.fast.vpn.free.secure.vpn)
- Thunder VPN - A Fast , Unlimited, Free VPN Proxy (com.fast.free.unblock.thunder.vpn)
- Thunder VPN Pro - A Fast , Unlimited, Free VPN Proxy (com.fast.vpn.free.thunder.vpn)
- VPN - Super Unlimited Proxy (com.supervpn.supervpnfree)
- VPN Master - Free VPN Proxy, Best & Fast Shield (com.freevpn.vpn_master)
These apps were distributed on Google Play and third-party app stores, and have potentially compromised 327,000 devices from Google Play, in addition to any downloads that were made from third-party markets. Most Xamalicious activity was detected in the US, Brazil, and Argentina, though infections were also reported in the UK, Spain, and Germany .
If you have downloaded any of these apps, uninstall them immediately. It is also recommended that you install a reputable antivirus software to protect your device from future threats.
Stay safe and secure!
Source -
https://www.pcmag.com/news/13-malicious-android-apps-you-should-delete-immediately
https://www.phonearena.com/news/millions-android-users-delete-apps-removed-from-google-play-store_id139477
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