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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Dave Snelling & Mya Bollan

Google bans 36 popular apps as Android users urged to delete them immediately

Millions of Android users have been issued a warning as security experts urge people to check their phones immediately.

It comes as a cyber attack has infected various popular apps, with the malicious software having the ability to perform tasks on phones without the consent of owners.

The team at McAfee Mobile Security explained that once a contaminated app is installed, it can be used by fraudsters to access Wi-Fi history, see the Bluetooth devices connected to the device and even identify the apps being as well as nearby GPS locations. Worryingly, that means that criminals can track the places you have been.

The experts warn that Android users could even be making the hackers money without even knowing as the bug is able to perform ad fraud. This is where hackers click on rogue advertisement in the background to bank cash, with this type of attack also known to slow down devices and overload phones with data.

Users are being asked to check devices for infected apps with concerns the applications have been downloaded millions of times, reports the Mirror.

Over 30 apps have are being deemed dangerous (Getty)

"The research team has found more than 60 applications containing this third-party malicious library, with more than 100 million downloads," McAfee confirmed.

Google has already been informed of the issues, with app developers told to fix the issues of see the apps banned from the app store.

Some developers have been quick to address the dangers. However, over 30 app have now been blocked after being found to contain the malicious software library.

"We reported the discovered apps to Google, which took prompt action," said McAfees' SangRyol Ryu.

"Google has reportedly notified the developers that their apps are in violation of Google Play policies and fixes are needed to reach compliance. Some apps were removed from Google Play while others were updated by the official developers."

Currently, there are no reports of UK users being targeted by the bug, with the issues mainly in South Korea. However, all Android users should remain vigilant.

Full list of apps removed or updated by Google

According to McAfee, the apps of concern are as follows:

Package Name Application Name GooglePlay Downloads GP
Status
com.lottemembers.android L.POINT with L.PAY 10M+ Updated*
com.Monthly23.SwipeBrickBreaker Swipe Brick Breaker 10M+ Removed**
com.realbyteapps.moneymanagerfree Money Manager Expense & Budget 10M+ Updated*
com.skt.tmap.ku TMAP – 대리,주차,전기차 충전,킥보 … 10M+ Updated*
kr.co.lottecinema.lcm 롯데시네마 10M+ Updated*
com.ktmusic.geniemusic 지니뮤직 – genie 10M+ Updated*
com.cultureland.ver2 컬쳐랜드[컬쳐캐쉬] 5M+ Updated*
com.gretech.gomplayerko GOM Player 5M+ Updated*
com.megabox.mop 메가박스(Megabox) 5M+ Removed**
kr.co.psynet LIVE Score, Real-Time Score 5M+ Updated*
sixclk.newpiki Pikicast 5M+ Removed**
com.appsnine.compass Compass 9: Smart Compass 1M+ Removed**
com.gomtv.gomaudio GOM Audio – Music, Sync lyrics 1M+ Updated*
com.gretech.gomtv 곰TV – All About Video 1M+ Updated*
com.guninnuri.guninday 전역일 계산기 디데이 곰신톡–군인 … 1M+ Updated*
com.itemmania.imiapp 아이템매니아 – 게임 아이템 거래 … 1M+ Removed**
com.lotteworld.android.lottemagicpass LOTTE WORLD Magicpass 1M+ Updated*
com.Monthly23.BounceBrickBreaker Bounce Brick Breaker 1M+ Removed**
com.Monthly23.InfiniteSlice Infinite Slice 1M+ Removed**
com.pump.noraebang 나홀로 노래방–쉽게 찾아 이용하는 … 1M+ Updated*
com.somcloud.somnote SomNote – Beautiful note app 1M+ Removed**
com.whitecrow.metroid Korea Subway Info : Metroid 1M+ Updated*
kr.co.GoodTVBible GOODTV다번역성경찬송 1M+ Removed**
kr.co.happymobile.happyscreen 해피스크린 – 해피포인트를 모으 … 1M+ Updated*
kr.co.rinasoft.howuse UBhind: Mobile Tracker Manager 1M+ Removed**
mafu.driving.free 스피드 운전면허 필기시험 … 1M+ Removed**
com.wtwoo.girlsinger.worldcup 이상형 월드컵 500K+ Updated*
kr.ac.fspmobile.cu CU편의점택배 500K+ Removed**
com.appsnine.audiorecorder 스마트 녹음기 : 음성 녹음기 100K+ Removed**
com.camera.catmera 캣메라 [순정 무음카메라] 100K+ Removed**
com.cultureland.plus 컬쳐플러스:컬쳐랜드 혜택 더하기 … 100K+ Updated*
com.dkworks.simple_air 창문닫아요(미세/초미세먼지/WHO … 100K+ Removed**
com.lotteworld.ticket.seoulsky 롯데월드타워 서울스카이 100K+ Updated*
com.Monthly23.LevelUpSnakeBall Snake Ball Lover 100K+ Removed**
com.nmp.playgeto 게토(geto) – PC방 게이머 필수 앱 100K+ Removed**
com.note.app.memorymemo 기억메모 – 심플해서 더 좋은 메모장 100K+ Removed**
com.player.pb.stream 풀빵 : 광고 없는 유튜브 영상 … 100K+ Removed**
com.realbyteapps.moneya Money Manager (Remove Ads) 100K+ Updated*
com.wishpoke.fanciticon Inssaticon – Cute Emoticons, K 100K+ Removed**
marifish.elder815.ecloud 클라우드런처 100K+ Updated*
com.dtryx.scinema 작은영화관 50K+ Updated*
com.kcld.ticketoffice 매표소–뮤지컬문화공연 예매& … 50K+ Updated*
com.lotteworld.ticket.aquarium 롯데월드 아쿠아리움 50K+ Updated*
com.lotteworld.ticket.waterpark 롯데 워터파크 50K+ Updated*
com.skt.skaf.l001mtm091 T map for KT, LGU+ 50K+ Removed**
org.howcompany.randomnumber 숫자 뽑기 50K+ Updated*
com.aog.loader 로더(Loader) – 효과음 다운로드 앱 10K+ Removed**
com.gomtv.gomaudio.pro GOM Audio Plus – Music, Sync l 10K+ Updated*
com.NineGames.SwipeBrickBreaker2 Swipe Brick Breaker 2 10K+ Removed**
com.notice.safehome 안심해 – 안심귀가 프로젝트 10K+ Removed**
kr.thepay.chuncheon 불러봄내 – 춘천시민을 위한 공공 … 10K+ Removed**
com.curation.fantaholic 판타홀릭 – 아이돌 SNS 앱 5K+ Removed**
com.dtryx.cinecube 씨네큐브 5K+ Updated*
com.p2e.tia.tnt TNT 5K+ Removed**
com.health.bestcare 베스트케어–위험한 전자기장, … 1K+ Removed**
com.ninegames.solitaire InfinitySolitaire 1K+ Removed**
com.notice.newsafe 안심해 : 안심지도 1K+ Removed**
com.notii.cashnote 노티아이 for 소상공인 1K+ Removed**
com.tdi.dataone TDI News – 최초 데이터 뉴스 앱 … 1K+ Removed**
com.ting.eyesting 눈팅 – 여자들의 커뮤니티 500+ Removed**
com.ting.tingsearch 팅서치 TingSearch 50+ Removed**
com.celeb.tube.krieshachu 츄스틱 : 크리샤츄 Fantastic 50+ Removed**
com.player.yeonhagoogokka 연하구곡 10+ Removed**

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