Google removes 17 Android apps infected with Joker malware

Tech giant Google has removed 17 apps from Google Play store. First spotted by Zscaler, these apps were infected with Joker malware app and were reportedly stealing details like contact details, SMSes and device information from user’s phones.

List of these app includes

• All Good PDF Scanner

Mint Leaf Message-Your Private Message

Unique Keyboard - Fancy Fonts & Free Emoticons

Tangram App Lock

Direct Messenger

Private SMS

One Sentence Translator - Multifunctional Translator

Style Photo Collage

Meticulous Scanner

Desire Translate

Talent Photo Editor - Blur focus

Care Message

Part Message

Paper Doc Scanner

Blue Scanner

Hummingbird PDF Converter - Photo to PDF

All Good PDF Scanner

According to a report by ZDNet, these applications were uploaded to the Google Play Store almost a month back. While Google has disbaled these on infected devices, users will still need to manually uninstall these apps from their mobiles.

This is third such time that Google has removed apps infected with the Joker malware. Six such apps were removed from the Play Store earlier this month. In July 2020, Google removed another batch of such malicious apps. Such malicious apps are uploaded on the Google Play store using a technique called the droppers where in a clone app with functionalities of a legitimate apps is developed. While it requests access to dangerous permissions, it doesn't perform any malicious actions when first run. “Because the malicious actions are usually delayed by hours or days, Google's security scans don't pick up the malicious code, and Google usually allows the app to be listed on the Play Store,” the report said.

Once downloaded on a user’s device, the app downloads other components or apps with the Joker malware or other malware strains.