Malwares infecting smartphones is a recurring problem. Every now and then a set of apps get affected as malware somehow squirm their way inside the system. Recently, a new malware has hit the Android Google Play Store as part of a few utilities apps.

SophosLabs has detected the Andr/HiddnAd-AJ malware that after a certain time, bombard the users with ads. However, these ads are not harmless. As per SophoLabs, this malware not only pops up advertising web pages, but can also sends Android notifications that include clickable links, to lure you into generating ad revenue for the criminals.

Here are six such apps:
Note: SophosLabs notified Google about these malicious apps, and the company claims to have removed them from the Google Play store.

HERE is source to app details as i will be sharing more on it: CHECK OUT : 7 dangerous apps Google has just removed from Play Store

FTC ooooo

Noted.
I know none of the above

FruitCakes:
Noted. I know none of the above

same

techki33:
this malware not only pops up advertising web pages, but can also sends Android notifications that include clickable links, to lure you into generating ad revenue for the criminals.

Here are six such apps:
Note: SophosLabs notified Google about these malicious apps, and the company claims to have removed them from the Google Play store.

HERE is source to app details as i will be sharing more on it: CHECK OUT : 7 dangerous apps Google has just removed from Play Store

Have experienced such... I once installed an app from play store just because of the presence of the app I discovered that each time my data is on it keep sending pop-up message. and most of this link once click will instantly redirect me to many sites i might even end up in porn site . I get to know after I might have removed the app.

Remove Pop-up Ads, Redirects, or Virus from Android Phone(Help Guide)
The number of Android apps infected with malware in Google’s Play store nearly quadrupled between 2012 and 2014. Make no mistake about it, there is such a thing as Android malware, cyber criminals create malware-spreading apps in devious attempts to steal personal details and advertisers use it as a marketing channel by bundling pushy ads with apps. In the first case, the users’ mobile security is clearly compromised. In the second one, the ad-app bundle is seldom mentioned, so users who download it unknowingly face a mobile privacy threat.

YES



So what about malware? Should we be worried? The key thing
to remember about malware on Android is that you have to
actually install the malicious app. Malware writers will use
increasingly clever techniques to try and trick you into doing
just that.

As malware writers try to earn money for their bad deeds, they
continually look for new ways to get their malicious software
installed on your devices. The best recommendation is still to
think twice before installing untrusted software or clicking on
strange-looking links.

Apps designed to personalize people’s Android-based phones
are most susceptible to be compromised, as well as
entertainment and gaming apps. Some of the most malicious
apps in the Google Play store downloaded since 2012 were
Wallpaper Dragon Ball, a wallpaper app, and the games Finger
Hockey and Subway Surfers Free Tips.

Both Wallpaper Dragon Ball and Finger Hockey, have malware
that steals confidential information such as device IDs from
infected devices. Subway Surfers Free Tips, meanwhile, uses a
Trojan called Air Push to bypass a device’s security settings
and subscribe infected phones to premium services
When downloading apps it’s imperative that you only do so
from a legitimate app store; that means from companies like
Google Playstore, Amazon, Samsung, or another major
manufacturer or carrier.

These marketplaces are monitored and scanned for potentially
dangerous or fraudulent programs. On occasion, however,
malicious apps sometimes slip through the cracks, often
disguised as legitimate ones. A fake BBM app recently
appeared in the Google Play store and managed to secure
more than 100,000 downloads before being removed. The app
itself was nothing more than a spamming service.
Pirated or cracked apps are another way that cybercriminals
use to infected Android phone with malware. They get
legitimate Android application package (APK) file and binding
it with a malicious program is a relatively simple process to
infect the Android phones. Most pirated or cracked apps
usually contain some form of malware so we advise you not
to install such apps.

techki33:
What can an Android malicious app do?

The vast majority of malware on Android is focused on
stealing your information, which is obviously a major concern.
Perhaps the worst case scenario at the moment is malware
that sends SMS messages to premium rate numbers.

Unfortunately, as we mentioned before, malware writers are
employing ever more sophisticated techniques to fool you.
There are apps that clone legitimate apps to fool you into
downloading them and apps that are malware free when you
first install them, but download malware through the update
system.

As a way to make revenue, advertising companies are getting
more and more aggressive by including functionality in their
apps to display ads in the notification bar, adding bookmarks,
or creating search engine shortcuts to the home screen.

These advertising apps can also send off personal data pertaining to
your device or account and will often require more
permissions to access functionality of your device than the
free app you downloaded requires.

techki33:
what can the most common Android malicious apps do?

most common Android malicious apps will do at least one of the following:

1. Collect and send GPS coordinates, contact lists, e-mail
addresses etc. to third parties
2. Send SMSs to premium-rate numbers
3. Subscribe infected phones to premium services
4. Record phone conversations and send them to attackers
5. Take control over the infected phone
6. Download other malware onto infected phones
7. “Push notifications ads” delivering alerts to a phone’s
notification bar – when the user swipes to pull down the
notification bar from the top of the screen, an ad shows up
under Notifications.
8. “Icon ads” inserted onto a phone’s start screen – when the
user touches the icon, it usually launches a search engine or
a web service.

techki33:
How do i remove malware from Android devices?

This page is a comprehensive guide which will remove redirect and pop-up ads from your Android device. Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point, STOP and ask

techki33:
STEP 1: Uninstall the malicious apps from Android

Android phone will get infected with viruses from a malicious
app that is installed on the smartphones. In this first step, we
will try to identify and uninstall any malicious app that might
be installed on your Android phone.

1. 1 To uninstall the malicious app from your Android device, go to the Settings menu, then click on Apps or Application manager ( this may differ depending on your device ).

STEP 2

techki33:
STEP 2

2. This will bring up a list of installed apps, including the malicious app. In our case the malicious app is “ BaDoink” however this will most likely be different in your case. These are some known malicious apps: BaDoink, Porn-player, Browser update 1.0, Flash Player, Porn Droid or System Update.

If you cannot find the malicious app, we advise you to
uninstall all the recently installed applications.

STEP 3

techki33:
STEP 3

3 Touch the app you’d like to uninstall.This won’t start the app, but will open up the program’s App Info screen. If the app is currently running press the Force stop button. Next we will clear the cache and data, and we will uninstall the unwanted app.

1. 1 First tap on the Clear cache button to remove the cache.

2. 2 Next, tap on the Clear data button to remove the app data from your Android phone.

3. 3 And finally tap on the Uninstall button to remove the malicious app.

If the Uninstall button is grayed out (this may happen if your phone is infected with the Android Screen Locker malware) then go to:

1. Settings > Security > Device administrators.
2. Tap the app that you cannot uninstall.
3. Choose “Deactivate” > “OK” and immediately shutdown your device.
4. Start your device again and then uninstall the malicious app.