Beware! Google bans 136 DANGEROUS apps on Play Store; delete from your phone

Google bans 136 apps on Play Store: Beware, indeed as you will lose money! Google has just banned these 136 apps. You must delete them from your phone. Check full list of these banned apps on Google Play Store. Google banned apps list includes Handy Translator Pro, Heart Rate and Pulse Tracker, Geospot: GPS Location Tracker, iCare – Find Location, My Chat Translator.

Google bans 136 apps on Play Store: Security firm Zimperium caught these apps stealing. These apps had malware called Grifthorse Android Trojan and they were robbing people of huge amounts of money. You probably have some of these apps on your phone, check the list of apps and Delete them immediately.

Google bans 136 apps: Beware, your money is being stolen from you via your phone! Now, it is up to you to stop the hackers. Security experts at Zimperium have detailed another malware that has stolen millions of dollars from Android smartphone users across the globe. The dangerous part is that these apps are probably on your phone and may well be stealing your money. Check the list of these apps found on Google Play Store and delete them immediately. 

After a complaint was registered, action was taken and Google slapped a ban on all 136 apps. However, users must act fast too as Grifthorse Android Trojan is unique! Google banned apps list includes Handy Translator Pro, Heart Rate and Pulse Tracker, Geospot: GPS Location Tracker, iCare – Find Location, My Chat Translator

What makes Grifthorse Android Trojan unique? Security researchers at Zimperium zLabs recently discovered an aggressive mobile premium services campaign named Grifthorse Android Trojan that has targeted over 10 million Google Android users globally. Researchers say that while ordinary online scams take advantage of phishing techniques, Grifthorse Android Trojan is unique in that it is hidden behind malicious Android applications acting as Trojans, which allows it to take advantage of user interactions for increased spread and infection.

What makes them even more special is that these malicious Android applications appear harmless when looking at the store description and requested permissions, “but this false sense of confidence changes when users get charged month over month for the premium service they get subscribed to without their knowledge and consent,” the security research firm wrote in a blog post.

A deep analysis of the Grifthorse Android Trojan suggests that the threat group has been running this campaign since November 2020. And while these malicious applications were initially distributed via both Google Play Store and third-party application stores, they have been removed from the Play Store since Zimperium zLabs reported its findings to Google.

However, while Google Play Store may have banned these apps, that does not mean users GriftHorse malware-powered malicious apps are gone. They are still available on unsecured third-party app stores. Even more troubling, they may be hidden inside some innocent apps that you may have downloaeded. That means you have to find them and delete them from your own phone.

What is Grifthorse Android Trojan and how does it work?

Zimperium zLabs explains that it poses a threat to all Android devices by functioning as a Trojan that subscribes unsuspecting users to paid services, charging a premium amounting to around 36 Euros per month.

The campaign has targeted millions of users from over 70 countries by serving selective malicious pages to users based on the geo-location of their IP address with the local language. Upon infection, the victim is bombarded with alerts on the screen letting them know they had won a prize and needed to claim it immediately. These pop ups reappear no less than five times per hour until the application user successfully accepts the offer.

Upon accepting the invitation for the prize, the malware redirects the victim to a geo-specific webpage where they are asked to submit their phone numbers for verification. But in reality, they are submitting their phone number to a premium SMS service that would start charging their phone bill over 30 Euros per month. The victim does not immediately notice the impact of the theft, and the likelihood of it continuing for months before detection is high, with little to no recourse to get one's money back.

“Overall, GriftHorse Android Trojan takes advantage of small screens, local trust, and misinformation to trick users into downloading and installing these Android Trojans, as well frustration or curiosity when accepting the fake free prize spammed into their notification screens,” Zimperium zLabs added in the blog post.

The security research firm has also provided a list of apps that you should avoid downloading in order to prevent yourself from being a part of this scam. You can check the entire list below.

Full List of Apps on Google Play Store apps banned by Google

App Name

Handy Translator Pro

Heart Rate and Pulse Tracker

Geospot: GPS Location Tracker

iCare – Find Location

My Chat Translator

Bus – Metrolis 2021

Free Translator Photo

Locker Tool

Fingerprint Changer

Call Recoder Pro

Instant Speech Translation

Racers Car Driver

Slime Simulator

Keyboard Themes

What's Me Sticker

Amazing Video Editor

Safe Lock

Heart Rhythm

Smart Spot Locator

CutCut Pro

OFFRoaders – Survive

Phone Finder by Clapping

Bus Driving Simulator

Fingerprint Defender

Lifeel – scan and test

Launcher iOS 15

Idle Gun Tycoo\u202an\u202c

Scanner App Scan Docs & Notes

Chat Translator All Messengers

Hunt Contact

Icony

Horoscope : Fortune

Fitness Point

Qibla AR Pro

Heart Rate and Meal Tracker

Mine Easy Translator

PhoneControl Block Spam Calls

Parallax paper 3D

SnapLens – Photo Translator

Qibla Pass Direction

Caller-x

Clap

Photo Effect Pro

iConnected Tracker

Smart Call Recorder

Daily Horoscope & Life Palmestry

Qibla Compass (Kaaba Locator)

Prookie-Cartoon Photo Editor

Qibla Ultimate

Truck – RoudDrive Offroad

GPS Phone Tracker – Family Locator

Call Recorder iCall

PikCho Editor app

Street Cars: pro Racing

Cinema Hall: Free HD Movies

Live Wallpaper & Background

Intelligent Translator Pro

Face Analyzer

TrueCaller & TrueRecoder

iTranslator_ Text & Voice & Photo

Pulse App – Heart Rate Monitor

Video & Photo Recovery Manager 2

Быстрые кредиты 24\7

Fitness Trainer

ClipBuddy

Vector arts

Ludo Speak v2.0

Battery Live Wallpaper 4K

Heart Rate Pro Health Monitor

Locatoria – Find Location

GetContacter

Photo Lab

AR Phone Booster – Battery Saver

English Arabic Translator direct

VPN Zone – Fast & Easy Proxy

100% Projector for Mobile Phone

Forza H Mobile 4 Ultimate Edition

Amazing Sticky Slime Simulator ASMR\u200f

Clap To Find My Phone

Screen Mirroring TV Cast

Free Calls WorldWide

My Locator Plus

iSalam Qibla Compass

Language Translator-Easy&Fast

WiFi Unlock Password Pro X

Pony Video Chat-Live Stream

Zodiac : Hand

Ludo Game Classic

Loca – Find Location

Easy TV Show

Qibla correct Quran Coran Koran

Dating App – Sweet Meet

R Circle – Location Finder

TagsContact

Ela-Salaty: Muslim Prayer Times & Qibla Direction

Qibla Compass

Soul Scanner – Check Your

CIAO – Live Video Chat

Plant Camera Identifier

Color Call Changer

Squishy and Pop it

Keyboard: Virtual Projector App

Scanner Pro App: PDF Document

QR Reader Pro

FX Keyboard

You Frame

Call Record Pro

Free Islamic Stickers 2021

QR Code Reader – Barcode Scanner

Bag X-Ray 100% Scanner

Phone Caller Screen 2021

Translate It – Online App

Mobile Things Finder

Proof-Caller

Phone Search by Clap

Second Translate PRO

CallerID

3D Camera To Plan

Qibla Finder – Qibla Direction

Stickers Maker for WhatsApp

Qibla direction watch (compass)

Piano Bot Easy Lessons

CallHelp: Second Phone Number

FastPulse – Heart Rate Monitor

Caller ID & Spam Blocker

Free Coupons 2021

KFC Saudi – Get free delivery and 50% off coupons

Skycoach

HOO Live – Meet and Chat

Easy Bass Booster

Coupons & Gifts: InstaShop

FindContact

Launcher iOS for Android

Call Blocker-Spam Call Blocker

Call Blocker-Spam Call Blocker

Live Mobile Number Tracker