Malware apps were downloaded more than 600 million times on Google Play Store in 2023, delete them from your phone as soon as possible
Kaspersky Report: According to a report by Kaspersky citing various other reports and sources, developers have found new ways to bypass Google's security checks to list their apps on the Play Store. The firm found a variety of infected content and applications downloaded through the storefront.
Google claims to have strong security rules for its Play Store. The company claims that users should not be able to download any malware apps from the platform. Google also removes such apps from its platform.
Leading cyber security and anti-virus firm Kaspersky has claimed that Android users have downloaded malware from Google's Play Store more than 600 million times in 2023. These infected apps include mini-game ads that collect user data, Minecraft clones, and apps that promise monetary rewards.
According to a report by Kaspersky, citing various other reports and sources, developers have found new ways to bypass Google's security checks to get their apps listed on the Play Store. The firm found a variety of infected content and applications downloaded through the storefront, which poses a serious security threat to Android users.
The biggest defaulters turned out to be suspicious apps with in-app mini-game ads, which collected data, with over 451 million downloads. According to the report, a malware called SpinOK was found infecting more than 100 apps on the store this year, promising monetary rewards while collecting user data.
The report found more than 100 million downloads for apps infected with hidden ads and more than 35 million downloads for ad-free clones of the popular game Minecraft. The report states that 39 Minecraft clones with hidden adware were found on the Play Store this year.
Mojang's Minecraft, a sandbox-style survival game, has over 50 million downloads on the Play Store. The report also mentioned more than 40 apps infected with background adware, which were downloaded 2.5 million times.
The report also mentions 50,000 downloads of the iRecorder screen recording app for Android. The app, which was uploaded to the Play Store in 2021, comes with a malware code that makes the app record sound from the smartphone's microphone every 15 minutes and send it to the developer's servers.
