Android malware infiltrates 60 Google Play apps with 100M installs
A recent report has revealed that more than 60 Android apps on the Google Play Store with over 100 million installs have been infected with malware. The malware, which has been dubbed “Tekya,” is capable of committing mobile ad fraud.
Tekya is a novel kind of malware that conceals itself by imitating user clicks on advertisements. As a result, ad networks and app developers won’t suspect it of engaging in ad fraud. The infection also simulates user ad clicks using a method known as “motion event-based injection.” Security software will be unable to find and stop fraudulent behaviour as a result.
The apps infected with Tekya are mostly utility apps and games that are popular among Android users. These include popular games such as “Piano Tiles 2” and “Bubble Shooter.” The malware has been found to be present in apps from various developers and countries, including India, Indonesia, and the United States.
Tekya generates fictitious ad clicks once it has been installed on a device and is running in the background. The malware’s developers benefit greatly from this, but the device’s battery life is depleted and performance is slowed down.
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Google has been made aware of the issue and has since removed the infected apps from the Play Store. However, users who have already downloaded these apps may still be at risk. It is important that Android users check their devices for any of the following apps and immediately uninstall them if they are present:
- AIO Flashlight
- Cake VPN
- Direction Compass
- File Manager
- Lightin VPN
- Net Master
- PIP Photo
- Processing Photo
- Super Zoom
- Super Cleaner
Android users should delete these apps and take precautions to safeguard their devices from malware threats in the future. This entails keeping their operating system and security software up to date on a regular basis and exercising caution when downloading programmes from unidentified sources.
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The Tekya malware is a serious threat to Android users and has already affected millions of devices. It is important that users remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect their devices from malware attacks. Google also needs to continue to improve its security measures to ensure that malicious apps are not able to infiltrate the Play Store and put users at risk.
Author: Jasmine Sahoo
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