If you want to keep your Android smartphone free from viruses or malware, then it is highly recommended that you make use of the Google Play Store to download the official apps as there are some tight security measures and processes put into place that all apps must go through.
However, every now and then, we hear news of malicious apps going past these security measures and getting listed on the Play Store, ultimately making their way to users' smartphones.
Make sure you delete these apps to secure your device
Something similar has been reported by Evina’s security researcher, Maxime Ingrao (via BleepingComputer). According to Ingrao, malware named Autolycos has been available on the Play Store that secretly subscribes the user to premium services, giving them a shock when they receive a bill and notice the amount debited from their credit or debit cards. To make matters worse, the Autolycos malware has been downloaded over 3 million times on Android devices.
Ingrao discovered this Autolycos malware back in June 2021 and reported it to Google. However, Google took around half a year to remove apps infected with Autolycos from the Play Store. Sadly, the measures weren't enough, as two offending apps containing the malware remain on the Play Store.
Here is the list of Autolycos malware-infected apps, that you should uninstall right away if you have them installed on your Android phone:
- Vlog Star Video Editor
- Creative 3D Launcher
- Wow Beauty Camera
- Gif Emoji Keyboard
- Freeglow Camera 1.0.0
- Coco Camera v1.1
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