HomeTech PointProtect Your Phone From...

Protect Your Phone From These 11 Malicious Apps

With all its life-changing magic, the Android smartphone fails when It sucks your time, sucking up your battery, and most of all, suck up your data. We have prepared a list of some malicious apps you should delete from your mobile phone immediately.  These malicious apps monitor you all the time, damage your mental health and claim to care about your personal information, but never practice what they are preaching.

Keeping in mind that you always need to perform research before installing and seek to familiarize yourself with the app development company — it will be a good indication of whether or not the software is trustworthy. Read the user reviews, check the app name quickly by Google to see if there are any news articles about it, and compare it to other applications with a similar feature. Whether the device is a pedometer that needs more data than most pedometer-related methods, you may have a parasite of data on your hands.

1. TikTok

malicious apps google play store data app apps

Secretary of State Mr. Mike Pompeo said in early July that the US is considering a ban on TikTok — the wildly popular social media app in which teenagers producing and uploading lip-sync videos, short comedy clips, and dances.

The vitriol against TikTok — owned and run by Beijing-based ByteDance — comes in part from reports that the website deliberately invades its users’ privacy, potentially passing on data to the oppressive Chinese government. There has been no evidence of any state-sponsored spying, however.

The main reason we have got TikTok on the page? The app’s collecting a lot of useful info. Even though it may not be harmful, users must at least be vigilant about whether a social media app wants access to the information such as your device IDs, memory use, applications installed on your smartphone, your device IP address, or your new WiFi access points.

2. Angry Birds

malicious apps google play store data app apps

Heartbreaking but real: Angry Birds, even after so many years, is not your buddy.

The game was launched by Finnish developer Rovio Entertainment back in 2009 and has been an instant sensation. Had everything gone wrong? Okay, all of this began with Edward Snowden.

Early on, the notorious hacker reported that the popular video game siphoned tons of user data. Still, all of us took him funny until it became the US national news. Also, the National Security Agency and its British equivalent, the headquarters of government communications, were gathering and distributing personal data about players of the game.

An ad database hidden in some code of the game let the company promote ads to its customers, and that ad data was utterly transparent in an unexpected turn of fate. , That implied confidential data such as phone numbers, call logs, political information, location,  and even details about the gender identity and sexual orientation of people became public and accessible to and outside such government agencies.

The company says the Android app now is free, but perhaps you should only take a break from targeting pigs and shooting birds for a while.

3. GasBuddy

Unfortunately, lots of appropriate and positive apps are among the most significant risks to your data protection. That’s just because, regardless, they rely on the data.

For example, take GasBuddy. It’s designed to help you save precious money at the pump by enabling you to compare rates at local gas stations — wherever you go and — but it also includes collecting loads and loads of location data for making those calls.

The company previously informed its customers of a shift in terms and conditions via an email and a push notification, Popular Mechanics has been told by the company’s general attorney.

“When you access the Service via a smartphone, and if your preferences are configured to allow information to be collected, we will also automatically collect information on your driving habits, including, but not limited to, driving distance, pace, accelerating and braking habits,” read the terms of service.

That part of the privacy statement relates to a “Drive” app that gathers data to tell you regarding your driving behavior. GasBuddy has said that this is an opt-in program.

Even if you’re using the app, you have at least some valuable data to turnover. This is true of all GPS location systems.

Sure, only the gas station’s location details may be used to coordinate locations such as where you live, sleep, workplace, and go out, but continually gathering detailed information about your site all the time sounds like a full-on Big Brother implementation.

5. Malicious Apps on Facebook

Evina, a Parisian cybersecurity company, has found 25 applications using Malware and suspicious codes to steal your Facebook logins’ passwords. Surprisingly enough, many of them tend to be devices connected to generic wallpapers or flashlights.

“This malware can effectively destroy your offline and online life by making off with one of the most respected digital commercial property credentials,” the firm published in a post on the official website.

Evina has been working with Google to delete the malicious apps from the Google Play store, but if you do have any of them using on your smartphone or any other device, please be sure to remove them as soon as possible:

  1. Contour Level Wallpaper
  2. iPlayer & wallpaper
  3. Video Maker
  4. Colour Wallpapers
  5. Pedometer
  6. Powerful Flashlight
  7. Super Wallpapers Flashlight
  8. Padenatef
  9. Wallpaper Level
  10. Super Bright Flashlight
  11. Super Flashlight
  12. Solitaire Game
  13. Accurate Scanning of QR Code
  14. Composite Z
  15. Screenshot Capture
  16. Daily Horoscope Wallpapers
  17. Wuxia Reader
  18. Plus Weather
  19. Anime Live Wallpaper
  20. iHealth Step Counter
  21. tqyapp. fiction
  22. Classic Card Game
  23. Junk File Cleaning
  24. Synthetic Z
  25. File Manager

6. IPVanish VPN

VPNs (virtual private networks) have become increasingly common over the last ten years, but they have been around 1996. They aim to disguise your online activity by establishing a secret internet network from a public connection and providing privacy and anonymity online. Virtual private networks hide the origin of your network IP (Internet Protocol), making it almost impossible to locate you. You can also make it look like you’re surfing from Slovakia when you’re physically in the United States.

Unfortunately, most VPN apps aren’t free, even one of the most famous IPVanish Vpn services. YouTubers and other marketers are promoting the premium subscription heavily since it has a profitable partner program. However, as per a YouTube analysis by Lee TV, a tech review vlog, IPVanish, was revealed to be storing user data and supplying it to US officials in 2018.

Isn’t it Strange? After it was detected, IPVanish left the activity, but it triggered many customer confidence problems, causing others to revoke their subscription and uninstall the app.

The partnership with the government, though kaput, raises the question: Who else does IPVanish share data with, though failing to inform clients properly?

7. Apps claiming to increase the device RAM

RAM (Random access memory) is used by phones and computers to store data required in real-time or at the next process. So, RAM keeps faster devices like computers and smartphones.  And to increase a device’s RAM capacity, you will need to purchase one, which is sometimes very costly.

Some malicious Apps offer to improve or increase your device RAM space. Apps like 4GB RAM Memory Booster-AppLock and RAM Booster (Memory Cleaner) clean your device’s cache to increase the capacity temporarily. This is something your smartphone already can do on its own, and these applications tend to be nothing more than an excuse to incorporate and gather the data to help you. So be cautious.

8. Facebook

No one will be surprised about this one, but you must seriously consider removing Facebook App if you don’t know already. Much like Instagram and Twitter, studies have found its users spending way too much time on the app, leading to depression or anxiety.

Yet, the problems related to privacy are of similar importance. The Cambridge Analytica fiasco last year resulted in 87 million compromised accounts whose privacy was breached in a major data leak that resulted in a US Probe from the Federal Trade Commission.

Facebook tends to have security breaches almost regularly, but the company itself still harvests the data to create a profile for marketers. The Facebook app helps you record audio, upload videos and images, attach and remove contacts, read your text and calendars, and much more.

The Facebook app also runs continuously in the background. It sends you irritating push alerts that kill your battery life and bandwidth caps (if your network provider doesn’t have an unlimited data plan).

As a solution, you can add a Facebook site shortcut to your smartphone’s home screen on Android or bookmark under your Apple iPhone favorites to reduce the data collection. It would help if you remembered to close the tab when you finish your work.

9. CamScanner

If you are working from home, you likely do not have an immediately available printer or fax machine, or scanner. So, when your manager or boss asks you to sign, scan, and directly send a paper, that’s where malicious apps like CamScanner you need.  The app allows you to capture a document and convert it into a PDF file instantly. Of course, it’s cool enough, but it was loaded with crawls in your smartphone before the Malware.

In June, analysts at Kaspersky, a Russian cybersecurity company, detected Malware in various CamScanner app versions. In a blog post, the analysts mentioned the Malware as:

“As the name implies, the module is a Trojan-Dropper, meaning that the module downloads and runs another malicious module from an encrypted file included in the resources of the device. This” dropped “Malware, in effect, is a Trojan-Downloader that installs more malicious modules depending on what its developers are up to at the moment.

It seems like the problem with ransomware or Malware has been fixed, as the CamScanner app is available in the Google Play store. The breach of trust is justification enough to turn to a similar application that will do the same thing, anyway. As a better option, try out the Microsoft Office Lens or Adobe Scan.

9. YouVersion Bible

malicious apps google play store data app apps

It is a pretty straightforward app featuring the complete Bible text. Then what could go wrong?  This year, the most popular Bible app, YouVersion, has been downloaded on about 300 a million smartphones, and it is the divine right of the user to collect all your data.

If you like, YouVersion can link and reconnect to WiFi, change the content saved on your smartphone, track your position, and read all your contacts. And it certainly is not about letting a higher force knows what you are doing. It is showing you ads.

A YouVersion representative has told ExpressVPN that you do not have to be worried about it. The app’s privileges are obviously intended to ensure “the best possible experience for our customers” and that the company, a non-profit, “will never sell user information or personally identifiable information.” But Analysts are not convinced.

10. Randonautica

As we all love crazy adventures as much as the other guy, but not when you are in a box with bodies inside, exactly how a group of young people on TikTok discovered Randonautica, your adventure style app.

Use the app, share your location, set a goal, and follow the screen’s instructions. It is essentially a random number generator, but users have had disturbing encounters (although the validation distortion can clarify some of these).

We’re not as worried about privacy or monitoring for this app, so getting it on your smartphone doesn’t automatically pose a risk. If you visit random places, the threat comes into the picture, so always take caution: do not go out late at night and not assault private property.

  1. Almost all of the below Android Malicious Apps are infected with Malware.

Do you know about “Joker Malware”? Just recent month, it turned out that the malware-infected two dozen Android devices, which are built to sign up for subscription services without your approval. This might cost you thousands of dollars if you do not regularly review your bank or credit card statements.

“We have found it so far in 24 malicious apps with over 472,000 installations in total,” CSIS Security Group cybersecurity investigator Aleksejs Kuprins published in a blog post.

Kuprins admits the virus “stalks SMS messages from the victim [and] the contact list and system data.”

Many of the notes from the code, he discovered, were written in Chinese, so this might mean where the threat originated from.

Google pulled the affected malicious apps from its store after the Malware was detected, so if you’ve either bought or installed one of the following applications, you must not only remove them instantly, but you should also review your bank and credit card statements to detect any fraud.

Below is a full list of identified affected Android malicious Apps:

  1. Mini Camera
  2. Print Plan Scan
  3. Rapid Face Scanner
  4. Reward Clean
  5. Ignite Clean
  6. Leaf Face Scanner
  7. Ruddy SMS
  8. Sony Camera
  9. Spark Wallpaper
  10. Advocate Wallpaper
  11. Age Face
  12. Altar Message
  13. Dazzle Wallpaper
  14. Declare Message
  15. Display Camera
  16. Great VPN
  17. Humour Camera
  18. Advocate Wallpaper
  19. Age Face
  20. Altar Message
  21. Antivirus Security — Security ScanBeach
  22. CameraBoard picture editing
  23. Certain Wallpaper
  24. Climate SMS
  25. Collate Face Scanner

Most Popular

More from Author

The Evolution of Ergonomics: A Historical Perspective on Office Chairs

The humble office chair, a staple in workplaces worldwide, has undergone...

Tech-driven workspaces: a guide to modern online tools transforming office operations

In today's fast-paced world, traditional office operations are not enough to...

What Are the Benefits of Visiting a IELTS Coaching Centre Near Me?

IELTS, or the International English Language Testing System, is one of...

Elevate Your PTE Prep: The Power of Online Coaching Unleashed

Are you planning to take the Pearson Test of English Academic,...

Read Now

Tech Innovations in the Wellness Industry: Streamlining Your Massage Business

Technology has emerged as a key player in the ever-changing wellness market for massage enterprises.  Having a smooth appointment system accessible via user-friendly applications, that is able to tailor client experiences based on data insights, and streamlines all practice operations with effective management tools cannot be overemphasized. The...

4 Essential Tools for Effective Digital Product Development

In today's fast-paced digital world, companies must always improve their products and come up with new ideas to stay ahead of the competition. Digital product development is now a big part of having a business that does well. As technology has gotten better, making products digitally has...

How do Smart Home Gadgets Work?

People are shifting more and more toward smart home solutions by every passing day. These indispensable gadgets simplify tasks for users, providing them convenience and peace of mind. From smart security systems to smart home assistants, all of these devices contribute to helping reshape the meaning of a...

Securing Your Purchase: How to Track eBay Packages Effectively

Understanding Package Tracking on eBay When you make a purchase on eBay, it's crucial to keep an eye on your shipment. The ability to track eBay package offers peace of mind and ensures you're fully informed about the status of your order. Tracking isn't just a convenience; it's...

Diving into CapCut’s Online Photo Editor: Mastering Color Correction Techniques

CapCut’s online photo editor stands as a versatile toolkit for enhancing and refining images. Among its array of sophisticated features, the repertoire of color correction techniques serves as a cornerstone in the pursuit of visual perfection. This robust toolset not only allows users to perfect color balance...

Game On: Navigating the Playfield of Mobile Game Monetization Trends

In the dynamic world of mobile gaming, keeping pace with evolving trends is crucial to unlocking the full potential of your game's profitability. As the playfield of monetization continues to transform, developers need to navigate through the latest trends to ensure success. Let's explore the cutting-edge strategies that...

How to Remove Snapchat AI with or without Snapchat+

As a popular social media platform and a pioneer in fleeting message platforms, Snapchat recently launched a cutting-edge AI feature called 'My AI'. While many users appreciate and enjoy the personalized touch this AI adds to their experience, some still feel invasive or even find it creepy....

Exploring Different Monetization Models: Finding the Right Fit for Your App

Just as the mobile app industry has grown, the ways of monetizing apps have grown in recent years. There are more ways than ever to make money with apps thanks to a variety of monetization models. The catch is that not every monetization model is going to...

How to React to Instagram Messages

Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms for connecting with friends, family, and brands. With its massive user base, chances are you receive Instagram direct messages (DMs) regularly. Knowing how to respond thoughtfully keeps conversations going. At Pumpic, we gathered everything you need...

Advantages of Embracing the Messaging Apps in Business Tools

Communication plays a vital role in any business's growth and success. Earlier on, email was the official mode of communication among team members. Today, things are done differently, as several professional communication methods exist. There is nothing much interesting about using emails nowadays. Individuals only embrace this method...

How to Recover Photos from iCloud to iPhone [3 Ways]

Apple has brought iCloud for users to store and back up memorable photos or important screen captures. When you mistakenly delete or suddenly lose any photo on your iPhone, you don't need to worry overly, since you can recover photos from iCloud to iPhone. Today's blog will...

Transitioning from Traditional Landlines to VoIP

In the digital age, businesses are constantly seeking ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance communication. One significant shift has been the transition from traditional landline telephony to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This technology allows voice calls to be made over the internet, offering a...