The Scotsman reported on 21 July 2022 that Google has banned 50 Android applications from the Playstore.

The applications were banned based on a discovery by an IT security company named Zscaler that identified that these applications had stolen personal details, and intercepted private texts. It was also identified that these applications made users forcibly subscribe to plans.

It was identified that all the applications had ‘virulent’ malware inclusive of the Joker bug.

The Joker bug uses hidden spyware that unknowingly signs up users to subscription plans that cost them large amounts of money.

Upon discovery, Zscaler had notified the Google Android Security team after which they were removed from the Google Play Store.

The removed applications are as follows:

• Simple Note Scanner, Universal PDF Scanner, Private Messenger, Premium SMS, Smart Messages, Text Emoji SMS, Blood Pressure Checker, Funny Keyboard, Memory Silent Camera, Custom Themed Keyboard, Light Messages, Themes Photo Keyboard, Send SMS, Themes Chat Messenger, Instant Messenger, Cool Keyboard, Fonts Emoji Keyboard, Mini PDF Scanner, Smart SMS Messages, Creative Emoji Keyboard, Fancy SMS, Fonts Emoji Keyboard (2), Personal Message, Funny Emoji Message, Magic Photo Editor, Professional Messages, All Photo Translator, Chat SMS, Smile Emoji, Wow Translator, All Language Translate, Cool Messages, Blood Pressure Diary, Chat Text SMS, Hi Text SMS, Emoji Theme Keyboard, iMessager, Text SMS, Camera Translator, Come Messages, Painting Photo Editor, Rich Theme Message, Quick Talk Message, Advanced SMS, Professional Messenger, Classic Game Messenger, Style Message, Private Game Messages, Timestamp Camera, Social Message.

Source: The Scotsman
Cover image credit: Shutterstock

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Fareeha Imtiaz

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