Android apps have been hit by the Joker malware. According to CSIS Security Group researcher Aleksejs Kuprins, a total of 24 Android apps have been affected by the Joker malware. About 472,000 people have subscribed to such Joker malware Android apps. A total of 37 countries have been affected by the virus, including India. Kuprins said in his blog post: “The majority of the discovered apps target the EU and Asian countries, however, some apps allow for any country to join”.
The 37 apps identified by Kuprins have been removed from the Google Play store. However, if you are an Android smartphone user with these apps, you should remove them immediately.
Delete these 10 dangerous apps from your phone right way to save yourself from cyber criminals. They pose a risk to Android smartphone users and need to be uninstalled now.
Joker Malware Android Apps Affected
- Beach Cameras 4.2
- Reward Clean 1.1.6 APK
- Age Face 1.1.2 APK
- Dazzle Wallpaper 1.0.1 APK
- Antivirus Security – Security Scan
- Leaf Face Scanner
- Rapid Face Scanner
- Board picture editing
- Certain Wallpaper
- Cute Camera
“Joker” is the malware that silently signs up users for subscription services, ones that they might be charged for over the course of several months before they even realize that they’ve been subscribed.
Countries affected by Joker Malware
The malware appears to be targeting specific countries, including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cyprus, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, India, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Myanmar, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Argentina, Singapore, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.
It is mainly targeting European and Asian countries with users using the SIM of aforementioned regions. The Google App Store has already removed several popular apps once they detected well-hidden advertisements plug-ins. Here are some easy steps to delete apps from your Android phone.
Open Settings > Apps
Tap on the app you want to remove.
Click “uninstall”.
Go to Settings > Sound & notification > App Notifications
Tap the app sending unwanted notifications
Scroll to Block.
Turn Block on.
It is best to read the permissions the apps ask for during the installation process. Whenever you notice something fishy, it is always good to exercise caution. Avoid installing apps, especially when the TnC are not clear.
