Android users have been warned over 11 apps that could be signing you up to paid for services without your consent.
Experts at Check Point say the number of applications range from flower wallpaper apps to memory games, reports the Mirror.
The apps, which appear legitimate, contain malware which is referred to as Joker - one of the most prominent types of virus software on Android.
Once the malware is installed, users are then signed up to a number of premium services without them knowing about it.
In a blog, Check Point researchers explained: “Joker, one of the most prominent types of malware for Android, keeps finding its way into Google’s official application market as a result of small changes to its code, which enables it to get past the Play store’s security and vetting barriers.
“This time, however, the malicious actor behind Joker adopted an old technique from the conventional PC threat landscape and used it in the mobile app world to avoid detection by Google.”
All of the apps have now thankfully been deleted from the Google Play Store, but some users may still have them on their devices.
If you suspect that you may have one of these apps on your smartphone, Check Point advises you:
- Uninstall the infected application from the device
- Check your mobile and credit-card bills to see if you have been signed up for any subscriptions and unsubscribe if possible
- Install a security solution to prevent future infections
Here is a list of the 11 apps that are considered to be dangerous
com.imagecompress.android
com.contact.withme.texts
com.hmvoice.friendsms
com.relax.relaxation.androidsms
com.cheery.message.sendsms
com.cheery.message.sendsms
com.peason.lovinglovemessage
com.file.recovefiles
com.LPlocker.lockapps
com.remindme.alram
com.training.memorygame
