You know that single app we told you about last week that started off kosher and gained privacy-violating capabilities nearly a year after its original Google Play release thanks to a seemingly innocuous update?
Now there are no less than 101 (other) apps found to contain spyware-injecting modules, and just in case that number isn't enough to send chills down your spine, here's another: 421 million. That's how many combined Play Store downloads the titles listed below have managed to collect (at the very least), and theoretically, that's also how many people are at risk of being spied on.
The culprits
Noizz: video editor with music
Zapya - File Transfer, Share
VFly: video editor&video maker
MVBit - MV video status maker
Biugo - video maker&video editor
Crazy Drop
Cashzine - Earn money reward
Fizzo Novel - Reading Offline
CashEM: Get Rewards
Tick: watch to earn
Bank Bingo Slot
Bingo-J
Jelly Connect
Mega Win Slots
Lucky Clover Bingo
Jackpot King - Coin Pusher
Owl Pop Mania
Daily Step
Get Rich Scanner
Star Quiz
Lucky Jackpot Pusher
Pic Pro - AI Photo Enhancer
PlayBox: Rewarded Play
Mission Guru: Brain Boost
Bubble Connect - puzzle match
Novelah - Read fiction & novel
InstaCash:Earn rewards
VibeTik
Bingo Tour
Coin Big Bang
Gold Miner Coin Dozer
Match Fun 3D
SurveyKing - Earn from surveys
Holiday Solitaire Party
Step Counter:Keep Fit
Survey Cash - Earn Easy Cash
BitCoin Connect
Mega Blast Tree
Treasure Scanner
Mega Coin Dozer
TT Tube:Short Video
Space Pop: Bubble Shooter
WOW Domino
Cake Factory: Pop Match3
Solitaire Arena
Domino Master
Royal Fishing Party
Piggy Rush Slot
Fruit BigBang
Solitaire Go: TriPeaks
Casino Royale: Wild Slots
Coin Vibe
Lucky Word Club
Money Gun - Earn money easily
Weather & Rewards - Real Money
Witch Slots 2
Fruit Drop
Bingo Joy
Video Tube: Cash Back
Digger Master - Casino slots
Trend Games
Make Money & Earn Cash Rewards
bucksfir
NovelFun
PixMania: Ganhe prêmios no pix
MemGuru
Candy Gas
Cash Prizes - Earn Rewards App
Gamony : Make Money Everyday
OhCash
Youth Rewards - Cash App
Fantasy Pusher
Money Game-Win Real Cash
Smart Walk
Mania Vegas Slots
Tap Away 3D
StepWin-Pedometer & Step Tracker
Queen Match-Triple Tile Master
Fast Wallet-Earn Money & games
Lion Coin: The King of Rewards
Reweize: Earn Rewards
SWE Rewards "Swedswap"
Blitz Slots
Water Puzzle Captain
Money Tube: Video Player
DigiWards
Bitcoin Cash Giveaway
Money Well:Play game & earn cash
Stars Coin
Colo Chess
Alaa win play
Lucky Money - Real Money Games
Puzzle Cash
Jackpot bingo Slots
Pop Rewards
Play Tube
Loto Scratch and Win
Game Reward- Real Money Games
Parking Inc. 3D
Maya Merge
Royal Dice Party
ChipWin To 21:Merge game
The issue
Beyond simply flooding your phone with ads and slowing down its performance or, well, ticking you off while you're trying to have a little fun with some casual card games or video editing tools, all these apps are currently hiding or have hidden at some point in their existence the malicious ability to collect information on files stored on your devices sans user approval.
This is an incredibly popular app that you should probably delete or avoid downloading from Google Play.
Even worse, the spyware-containing marketing SDK (software development kit) attached to these apps can transfer files from your Android phone to remote servers without your knowledge, as well as gather all kinds of sensitive data related to different sensors that can then be used to track your every move, both on and offline.
The truly scary thing about the above list is that it includes many titles still available for Play Store installation, the first ten of which are hugely popular and not that poorly reviewed.
That's because a number of apps, like Zapya, have actually gotten rid of their trojan modules with recent updates, suggesting their developers were not aware of the spyware that was added by third-party advertisers and bad actors.
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While some titles were pulled by Google upon Dr. Web's discoveries, others evidently got pardoned, which could mean they are now completely safe to use. But are you willing to take that risk and can you trust a developer that either wanted to spy on you and was caught red-handed or never had that intention yet allowed malware to spread freely through its apps?
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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