Report advises uninstalling these apps before your phone gets damaged
Between June 2023 and April 2024, more than 200 fraudulent apps were downloaded millions of times , and managed to disguise themselves as useful tools, such as PDF readers, QR scanners, or image editors. These apps were used by cybercriminals to spread two main types of malware: adware and Jocker .
Adware constantly displays annoying ads, slows down your device and exposes your data to third parties. Although it is not as dangerous as Jocker, it is still harmful. On the other hand, Joker is more frightening, as it steals sensitive data and can subscribe users to paid services without their consent.
The presence of ads on your cell phone is a sign of adware. This type of malware is responsible for displaying fraudulent ads through pop-ups, images or videos that disrupt the normal use of the device. In addition to being a nuisance, these ads can generate income for cybercriminals and harm the performance of your cell phone.
The report highlights that 48% of malicious apps are in the Tools category, such as flashlight apps , battery optimization apps , or PDF readers . This is followed by Personalization (15%) and Photography (11%) apps. These are the most popular apps and the ones most likely to harbor malware, affecting users and their phones.