The Belgian Police has identified several Android apps that contain the Joker virus, a malware that can cause you to lose money without your knowledge.
The offending Android apps has since been removed from the Google Play Store. So it goes without saying that if you have any of these apps installed on your phone, promptly delete it.
The Joker virus can make unauthorized operations on affected Android devices without the users’ knowledge. Perhaps its most dangerous ability is that it can subscribe affected users to paid subscription services without their knowledge, thereby draining bank accounts or charging credit cards.
The malware has been around since 2017, initially found on around 1,700 apps before it was downloaded by users. It resurfaced in 2020 in 14 Android apps with over 500,000 downloads before it was removed.
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Here are the affected apps:
- Auxiliary Message
- Element Scanner
- Fast Magic SMS
- Free CamScanner
- Go Messages
- Super Message
- Super SMS
- Travel Wallpapers
- Private SMS
- Hummingbird PDF Converter – Photo to PDF
- Style Photo Collage
- Talent Photo Editor – Blur focus
- Paper Doc Scanner
- All Good PDF Scanner
- Care Message
- Part Message
- Blue Scanner
- Direct Messenger
- One Sentence Translator – Multifunctional Translator
- Mint Leaf Message-Your Private Message
- Unique Keyboard – Fancy Fonts & Free Emoticons
- Tangram App Lock
- Desire Translate
- Meticulous Scanner
Again, if you have any of these apps installed on your Android device, delete it immediately.
Via: entrepreneur.com
Featured image from Unsplash.com
