Android warning: all the dangerous apps and scams around this year

Android users should be on alert for a series of dangerous new malware (Image: GETTY) Well, what a year it has been for Android users. A real rollercoaster – with the highs of Android 10 and

all the exciting new features and security improvements included as part of that free upgrade, followed by the devastating onslaught of malware and scams that have plagued the operating

system. Millions have been put at risk due to sophisticated attacks lurking within the Google Play Store, fake apps found online, and other terrifying threats. If you're sat reading

this wondering, "_hang on, I don't remember any of these warnings_" – firstly, where have you been? And more importantly, it's worth having a trawl through some of the

apps on your Android-powered smartphone or table to ensure one of these dangerous scams isn't residing on your device. Thankfully, Google has been working hard to remove these threats

as they're discovered by security firms and enterprising users. But while that means nobody else will fall pray of the apps – more often than not built by cybercriminals to siphon-off

your private information or make money by generating impressions for advertisements on your handset – those who already have fallen fowl will need to manually kill the software themselves.

RELATED ARTICLES That can be a problem in itself since one of these dangerous apps was capable of quietly reinstalling themselves onto your device after you've tried to purge them from

your Android operating system. Downloaded 45,000 times in the last six months alone, the software – known as Xhelper – can hide itself on your handset to avoid detection. And even if you do

manage to locate it on your smartphone and delete it, the nefarious app can reinstall itself without your permission. Worse yet, it seems to be spreading fast. According to research by

security firm Symantec, there was an average of 131 devices infected each and every day in November 2019, with an average of 2,400 devices persistently infected throughout the month. The

malware appears to mostly affect users in India, United States of America, and Russia. Suitably spooked? You should be, according to the research from Symantec. The app has even been

observed re-installing itself onto users’ smartphones after they uninstall it. Xhelper is designed to stay hidden by not appearing inside your Android smartphone’s launcher, so scrolling

through the list of apps won’t help. All this to say, it’s a really nasty piece of software. Some of the complaints spotted by Symantec that first alerted them to the possible issues (Image:

SYMANTEC) However, there is some good news. For starters, Symantec hasn’t detected any instances of Xhelper originating from the Google Play Store. So, if you only download apps and games

from the Google-operated digital marketplace, then you’re extremely unlikely to be infected by the dangerous app. According to Symantec, its own anti-virus solution will identify Xhelper as

“Android.Malapp”. Symantec, which owns Norton anti-virus, or similar anti-virus solutions will be able to strip-out the dangerous app for good. That said, Android users should be wary of

anti-virus apps and unfamiliar developers who promise to fix their malware issues as a number of these have been discovered to be elaborate hoaxes to infect your device. Yes, the very apps

that you're hoping will solve any problems with your handset are being used to make it much, much worse. The report issued by security research firm VPNpro at the end of October claimed

that, in total, these apps amassed a whopping 1.9 billion downloads. So why exactly are these apps so bad? Well, VPNpro said the programmes used permissions agreed to during its set-up

process to collect and sell a user’s personal data. It also noted malware could be spread using these permissions, too. Even more worrying was the fact some of the apps in question were said

to demand a payment before they’re able to be deleted. VPNpro also found a further five apps that were said to be equally as malicious and boasted over 500 million combined downloads.

Here’s a full list of dangerous apps listed by the security firm. If you have any of them on your phone, it’s advised you delete them immediately. * Security Master - Antivirus, VPN,

AppLock, Booster | 500 million installs * Virus Cleaner, Antivirus, Cleaner (MAX Security) | 50 million installs * Antivirus Free 2019 - Scan & Remove Virus, Cleaner | 10 million

installs * 360 Security - Free Antivirus, Booster, Cleaner | 100 million installs * Virus Cleaner 2019 - Antivirus, Cleaner & Booster | 50 million installs * Super Phone Cleaner: Virus

Cleaner, Phone Cleaner | 50 million installs * 360 Security Lite - Booster, Cleaner, AppLock | 50 million installs * Super Cleaner - Antivirus, Booster, Phone Cleaner | 100 million installs

* Clean Master - Antivirus, Applock & Cleaner | 1 billion installs * Super Security - Antivirus, Booster & AppLock | 10 million installs * Antivirus Free - Virus Cleaner | 50 million

installs * Antivirus Free 2019 - Virus Cleaner | 1 million installs * Antivirus Android | 1 million installs * Antivirus & Virus Cleaner | 10 million installs * Antivirus Mobile -

Cleaner, Phone Virus Scanner While most of the apps listed above have been removed from the Play Store, some, such as Security Master - Antivirus, VPN, AppLock, Booster, remain on the Google

marketplace. Don’t think that’s all though because Google Android warnings have been coming thick an Last month also saw researchers at ESET identify 42 apps from the Google Play Store

containing harmful adware capable of draining a user’s battery life, data and gathering personal information. As a quick reminder, adware is software that displays or downloads advertising

material, typically without user consent and sometimes without their knowledge, either. ANDROID UNVEILS NEW SECURITY AND PRIVACY FEATURES FOR USERS In a blog post, malware researcher Lukas

Stefanko detailed each app has been removed from Google’s store, but some remain downloadable on third-party app marketplaces. All in all, the 42 apps were said to have amassed eight million

downloads. Stefanko named 21 of the apps in question and detailed the package names of the other 21 in a blog post. They were said to be: * Smart Gallery * SaveInsta * Mini lite for

Facebook * Free Radio FM Online * Free Video Downloader * Free social video downloader * File Downloader * Water Drink Reminder * Smart Notes for You * DU Recorder * Tank classic * Heroes

Jump * Solucionario * Ringtone Maker * Video downloader * Ringtone Maker Pro * Basketball Perfect Shot * HikeTop+ * MP4 video downloader * Flat Music Player * Free Top Video Downloader

RELATED ARTICLES Announced last week, Google is partnering with the ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium to fight against bad actors in its Android ecosystem. The American firm said the App Defence

Alliance is “working to ensure the safety of the Google Play Store” by “quickly finding potentially harmful applications and stopping them from being published”. Google went on: “As part of

this Alliance, we are integrating our Google Play Protect detection systems with each partner’s scanning engines. This will generate new app risk intelligence as apps are being queued to

publish. Partners will analyse that dataset and act as another, vital set of eyes prior to an app going live on the Play Store.” With any luck, this program – as well as the increased

awareness of these types of scam – will mean we're less likely to see these tricks work in 2020. In the meantime, try to stick with applications from known developers or trusted

sources. And if things seem too good to be true, they probably are.