Android warning over 15 popular apps that allow hackers to ‘secretly use your phone’ – delete them now
ANDROID users are being warned by experts to delete a range of antivirus apps from their phone if they've been unfortunate enough to download them.
The 15 apps are said to be potentially dangerous but many of them are still available on the Google Play Store.
The apps have reportedly been downloaded billions of times.
According to online privacy experts VPN Pro, they could be causing harm to your smartphone.
Security researcher Jan Youngren wrote in a VPN: "These apps are amazingly popular and potentially dangerous.
"That’s because they’re asking users to give them a lot of dangerous permissions that they don’t seem to need."
Youngren added: "Permissions like knowing where you are at all times, being able to use your camera, and even using your phone without your knowledge."
The blog post also revealed that the apps, including Antivirus Free 2019 and Security Master, have been downloaded more than two billion times.
The dangerous antivirus apps
The following is the list of the apps that Android wants you to delete...
- Security Master – Antivirus, VPN, AppLock, Booster
- Clean Master – Antivirus, Applock & Cleaner
- Antivirus Free 2019 – Scan & Remove Virus, Cleaner
- 360 Security – Free Antivirus, Booster, Cleaner
- Antivirus Android
- Virus Cleaner 2019 – Antivirus, Cleaner & Booster
- Super Cleaner – Antivirus, Booster, Phone Cleaner
- Antivirus Free – Virus Cleaner
- Virus Cleaner, Antivirus, Cleaner (MAX Security)
- Super Phone Cleaner: Virus Cleaner, Phone Cleaner
- Super Security – Antivirus, Booster & AppLock
- Antivirus & Virus Cleaner (Applock, Clean, Boost)
- 360 Security Lite – Booster, Cleaner, AppLock
- Antivirus Free 2019 – Virus Cleaner
- Antivirus Mobile – Cleaner, Phone Virus Scanner
Some of them have since been removed from the Google Play Store but others are still available.
The researchers who spotted the issue are urging users to be very careful about the apps they download.
They also recommend deleting any of the antivirus apps mentioned if you have downloaded any.
Youngren added: “Even though these apps have been found guilty of these malicious activities in the past, they’re still available on Google Play and amassing millions of installs every month.”
The tech expert warns that you should also question whether you need an antivirus app, check whether it's requesting for any dangerous permissions to be given and make sure it's from a reputable developer.
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Americans mysteriously received texts from ‘dead husbands, pals and parents’ in bizarre nationwide phone bug.
And, if you have an iPhone, you should update to the new iOS 13.2.2 to boost your phone signal and app loading times.
Did you have any of the affected apps on your phone? Let us know in the comments...
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