Delete these 7 apps from your Android phone right now

by James · October 24, 2022

Last updated: December 23, 2021, 2:37 PM IST

The Joker malware falls into the category of “Fleeceware” and it eventually steals your money without your knowledge.

The team at cybersecurity firm Pradeo has found several apps in the Google Play Store along with Color Message that are infected by the Joker malware.

Mobile security solutions firm Pradeo has alerted Android phone users about a new strain of the infamous Joker malware infecting new apps on the official Google Play Store. Joker malware has already returned to Google Play and has already infected 15 popular apps. This malware had created a major mobile security risk last year when it infected legitimate Android apps on the Google Play Store. Despite Google’s intervention last year, the Joker malware has made a comeback by making small changes to its code to bypass Google’s security.

Recently, an analyst at cybersecurity firm Kaspersky named Tatyana Shishkova found that the Joker malware infected at least 14 Android apps. This malware was first discovered in 2017 and has been a big challenge for Google to fight back.

Also read: Government warning: New Diavol virus spreads via email to steal your money

According to a report by Pradeo, a popular app called Color Message which is used by 5 lakh users is the latest to be infected by Joker malware. “The application appears to be making connections to Russian servers,” the report said.

What is Joker malware and why is it so dangerous

Joker malware falls into the category of “Fleeceware” which ultimately steals your money without your knowledge. This malware simulates clicks and intercepts SMS to subscribe to unwanted paid premium services without users’ knowledge. It can simply subscribe to a paid service online without taking any permissions and it can also click online ads automatically. What makes this malware so dangerous is that it can even read one-off SMS messages to secretly authorize payments. Unless you check your bank statements, you won’t even know you’re paying for a random web app or service.