On many occasions we install applications or add-ons that can put our security at risk. This happens both on computers and also on mobile devices. This last case is more present today, since we use the mobile for almost everything and hackers take advantage of it. In this article we echo different programs that contain adware and that if you have installed them on your mobile they could be spying on you. We will give tips to avoid this problem.
Mobile apps with adware
A group of security researchers from Satori Threat Intelligence has discovered a total of 75 Android apps and another 10 iOS apps that contained adware. So far nothing out of the ordinary, since it is not uncommon to find fraudulent programs of this type. The problem is that these are really used applications, since in total they add up to about 13 million installations. This means that many users have these types of programs installed without knowing it.
What can these types of programs do? The first thing is to flood the phone with fraudulent advertising. But they could also take control of devices, spy on you, and even steal important data. In general, however, their goal is simply to earn revenue by posing as legitimate applications and thereby attracting visitors.
Another major problem is that these programs were within the official app stores of both Google and Apple. We always say that installing software from there is much safer than doing it from third-party sources, such as independent pages, but that does not mean that programs do not sneak in, as in this case.
Those apps have already been removed from Google Play and Apple Store. But those who have previously installed them may still have them on their mobiles without knowing it. The list is extensive and you can see it in the report presented by security researchers, but these are some of the ones that have the most downloads:
iOS:
- loot the castle
- Run Bridge
- Shining Gun
- Racing Legend 3D
- rope runner
Android:
- Super Hero-Save the World!
- Spot 10 Differences
- Find 5 Differences
- Dinosaur Legend
- One Line Drawing
How to avoid installing fake apps
Whether you have installed any of these applications or not, the important thing is that you know how to install programs safely. Although zero risk does not exist and they can always sneak fake and malicious software into legitimate app stores, without a doubt the first thing you should do is install the programs from these reliable sites.
You can also watch comments and ratings from other users. You can see if there are negative scores, a message that warns that it is a fraud or anything that may make you doubt. It is important to always be sure of what we are installing and that it is not a scam.
Another important tip is to always have the updated mobile. Sometimes these apps will take advantage of devices that are buggy or have old versions. On both Android and iOS, always try to have the latest version installed and that will prevent a lot of security issues as well.
Also, having a good antivirus can be a good idea to detect malware. This will help you to protect the security of the mobile as much as possible. There are many options available, but you should always choose one with guarantees.
