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Not only in the Google Play Store, but also in Apple’s App Store, dangerous applications can occasionally be found that can cause serious problems for users. These include, for example, the following apps, which you should delete. They can pose a threat in a variety of ways.
Delete app: Watch out for these five examples
If you find a questionable app on your phone, deleting it is always a recommended response. iPhone and iPad owners can generally feel a little safer, as Apple thoroughly checks the apps in its App Store and ensures that potentially risky ones don’t make it in.
Android users, on the other hand, are more vulnerable to malware and criminals. They can more easily circumvent security measures and smuggle software into the Play Store for download via third-party sources. Accordingly, you should be especially careful if you use a smartphone with the Google operating system.
In any case, it is essential to read reviews and ratings for any application that has caught your interest before downloading it. Just one malicious app can be enough for you to be hacked and have your data stolen. Experts recommend, for example, getting rid of these five apps.
Note: The apps mentioned have already been removed from the app stores. However, those who are unaware of the risks involved may still be using them.
#1 SuperVPN
This is not the first time that the application has come under the scrutiny of experts. Back in 2020, people were advised to delete the SuperVPN app. And just recently, in 2023, analysts concluded that it was “one of the most dangerous and unreliable free VPNs we have tested.”
There are many reasons for this: the application has “invasive logging processes, weak security features, worrying connections to China, and cannot unblock web content.” Users were warned against using this VPN and advised to “uninstall it immediately.”
#2 Noizz
Behind this application is a popular video editing and music editor. It has already been downloaded around 100 million times from the Google Play Store in 2023. Later, according to Bleeping Computer, it was discovered that the application contains malicious software that can compromise your device.
Specifically, this is a relatively new Android malware called “SpinOk” that can steal private data stored on users’ devices and send it to a remote server. It simulates mini-games to pique users’ interest.
While these are displayed in the app, the malware performs malicious functions in the background, including listing data in directories, searching for specific information, uploading files from the device, or copying and replacing clipboard content.
#3 Fake ChatGPT apps
Thanks to the overwhelming popularity of the AI bot ChatGPT, it was inevitable that fake versions of it would appear, some of which contain malicious code. A fake ChatGPT app recently infected the PCs of many users with malware.
It is therefore essential not to fall for fake OpenAI/ChatGPT apps that appear on both Google Play and the App Store. They often look exactly like the original, but may contain so-called fleeceware that attempts to steal your money.
#4 Essential Horoscope
Many horoscope apps are just fun for their users. In the case of Essential Horoscope for Android, this assumption led to more than 100,000 downloads on Google Play. Then, the experts at McAfee discovered that it contained malware called Xamalicious.
This malware uses the open-source framework Xamarin to hide itself on infected devices. It can then take complete control to carry out fraudulent actions without the consent of the affected users. This includes, for example, secretly installing other apps.
#5 UC Web Browser
This browser is only available for Android and belongs to the Chinese company Alibaba via its developer UCWeb. However, according to cybersecurity experts, the app does not adequately protect data transfers, as Shefinds explains. This can leave personal information vulnerable to criminals and attacks.
- source: futurezone.at/picture: Image by Iqbal Nuril Anwar from Pixabay
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