More than 11 million Android devices have been infected by a dangerous malware known as the Necro trojan that creeped into phones and tablets through unofficial modified apps as well as game mods, a report has said.
The malware, which was first spotted in 2019, has reportedly made a return with new malicious capabilities. The malware is now being distributed via official apps on the Google Play Store, a report by Kaspersky said.
Once installed, it downloads additional components, turning infected phones into tools for adware, subscription fraud and even proxy servers for sending malicious traffic, the report added.
Delete these dangerous apps from your phones
The report names two most dangerous apps that have facilitated the malware’s distribution: Wuta Camera and Max Browser.
Wuta Camera is among the most notable apps that have been affected, with the popular camera app downloaded around 10 million times. The older versions have been removed and users can update their apps or download a fresh app.
Max Browser, which has been downloaded over a million times, has also been removed. Apart from these apps, modified versions of apps like Spotify Plus, WhatsApp, Minecraft and others were also infected. Hackers use these mods to lure users, offering advanced capabilities and features.
How users can protect themselves
To protect yourself from Android malware, it is advised to only download apps from official sources like the Google Play Store and ensure that Google Play Protect is enabled on your device.
Before downloading any app, even from official stores, check its ratings and reviews, and look for video reviews online to see the app in action. Users can also scan their Android devices with antivirus software to check for infections.
