Avast Reveals 47 Apps On Google Play That Were "adware" In Disguise

Avast reveals 47 apps on Google Play that were “adware” in disguise

Known as HiddenAds, apps showed intrusive ads outside the app

Security company Avast discovered and reported 47 game apps to Google that were actually disguised viruses. Currently, 17 of the apps are still available in the Play Store , but Google is already investigating them, according to the company.

These malicious apps are part of the HiddenAds family , a trojan disguised as a safe and useful app, but which displays intrusive ads outside the app . The applications have been downloaded more than 15 million times in total and Brazil is the country that suffers the most from this type of disguised adware , according to Avast research (check the table below).

Avast reveals 47 apps on Google Play that were adware in disguise

Malicious apps were discovered using the automatic detection software apklab.io, based on a previous HiddenAds campaign and recently found on the Google Play Store. Through this analysis, Avast was able to find the campaign by comparing similar network activities, resources, and traffic.

Check out the most downloaded apps from the HiddenAds family that were discovered by Avast on Google Play ( many of which have already been removed from the Google app store ):

– Draw Color by Number
– Skate Board
– Find Hidden Differences
– Shoot Master
– Stacking Guys
– Disc Go!
– Spot Hidden Differences
– Dancing Run – Color Ball Run
– Find 5 Differences
– Joy Woodworker
– Throw Master
– Throw into Space
– Divide it – Cut & Slice Game
– Tony Shoot
– Assassin Legend
– Flip King
– Save Your Boy
– Assassin Hunter 2020
– Stealing Run
– Fly Skater 2020

Applications have the ability to hide their icons on an infected device and display intrusive ads on the entire device, which is an essential feature of the HiddenAds family. Seven of these apps can open your phone’s browser to display additional ads. Even when the user removes the app from the device, ads will continue to serve.

So it is recommended to read the reviews before downloading an application. Avast- listed apps have low ratings , in which users complain about incessant ads and poor functionality of game features.

What is adware?

Adware is a type of malicious software that bombards a user with excessive advertisements inside and outside an application. Adware apps are often difficult to recognize as they are often disguised as entertainment apps like online games .

It is important to always read the permissions requested by the application before installing it to avoid downloading adware.

Source: Avast reveals 47 apps on Google Play that were adware in disguise

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Avast reveals 47 apps on Google Play that were “adware” in disguise