Beware-Millions of Android Users Download Malicious Flashlight Apps on Google Play

Flashlight Apps on Google Play are the most patchy apps. The cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. has discovered that the apps were loaded with adware. After that claim, Google has removed 22 malicious flashlight apps on Google Play.

Beware-Millions of Android Users download Malicious Flashlight Apps on Google Play

Check Point calls this adware “LightsOut,”. Moreover, this adware had been downloaded by between 1.5 million to 7.5 million Android users before they were finally removed from Google’s store.

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“Despite the vast investment Google has recently made in the security of their App Store, ‘LightsOut’ reminds us once again that users need to be wary of downloading from App Stores and are advised to have a ‘Plan B’ in the form of an advanced mobile threat defense solution that goes beyond anti-virus,”

Check Point said in a blog post.

“Many users are still unaware of the dangers lurking for them, and continue to install apps such as fishy flashlights.”

According to Check Point, this adware forces users to interact with ads before allowing them to answer calls or perform other activities on their device. The ads could be triggered by a number of different events, including ending a call, plugging in a charger, locking the device and  others. Check Point said that LightsOut could override user settings to disable the ads. Moreover, some users still saw the ads even after they paid for a supposedly ad-free version of the infected app.

In 2017, Check Point estimated between 35.5 and 106 million malicious app downloads from Google Play. However, in 2016 it was 15.5 to 20.5 million malicious app downloads.

So beware while downloading any app from Google Play Store.

Also See: Check Out Google Play’s Best Apps, Games, Books, Movies and TV Shows of 2017