# Google bans 6 malware-infected apps from the Play Store, uninstall them right now | Tech News (HT Tech) > After pulling off around 11 apps from the Play Store in July this year, Google Play has taken 6 more off the Play Store for containing the Joker malware. These apps accounted for nearly 200,000 downloads. # Google bans 6 malware-infected apps from the Play Store, uninstall them right now ## After pulling off around 11 apps from the Play Store in July this year, Google Play has taken 6 more off the Play Store for containing the Joker malware. These apps accounted for nearly 200,000 downloads. Aug 20 2022, 22:50 IST ![Follow on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/follow-us-facebook.png) ![Follow on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/follow-us-facebook-hover.png) ![Share](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Share.png) ![Share](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Shareclicked.png) ![Share on WhatsApp](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/whatsapp.png) ![Share on WhatsApp](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/whatsapp-hover.png) ![Share on Twitter](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/twitter.png) ![Share on Twitter](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/twitter-hover.png) ![Share on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/facebook.png) ![Share on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/facebook-hover.png) ![Bookmark](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Bookmark.png) ![Bookmarked](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Bookmarked.png) ![Google had identified Bread (also known as Joker) which is a large-scale billing fraud family in 2017 that identifies apps that are designed solely for SMS fraud.](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/img/2020/09/08/1600x900/cyber-security-1805246_1280_1599568208017_1599568218865.png) Google had identified Bread (also known as Joker) which is a large-scale billing fraud family in 2017 that identifies apps that are designed solely for SMS fraud. (Pixabay) ![Author Photo](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/HTTech-new-circle-logo.png) ### By HT TECH The notorious Joker malware has turned up on the Google Play Store again just after the platform banned 11 apps in July this year for being infected with the malware. Cybersecurity firm Pradeo has now identified six new apps that have the Joker malware and are on the Play Store, Zee News reported. The firm said that these infected applications have nearly 200,000 downloads Pradeo explained in a blog post that Joker is a malicious bot that has been categorised as fleeceware. The main task of this type of malware is to simulate clicks and intercept SMS’ to subscribe to unwanted paid premium services without the users learning about it. Joker uses as little code as possible and thoroughly hides it to generate a very discreet footprint that is tricky to detect. Also Read: Google bans these apps for injecting malware, uninstall them right away Also read click here. The six apps that have been infected with Joker malware and have turned malicious include Safety AppLock, Convenient Scanner 2, Push Message- Texting & SMS, Emoji Wallpaper, Separate Doc Scanner and Fingertip GameBox. All these apps have been removed from the Play Store already and if you have them on your smartphone you should uninstall them right away, Pradeo suggested. Google had identified Bread (also known as Joker) which is a large-scale billing fraud family in 2017 that identifies apps that are designed solely for SMS fraud. Also Read: Almost 4.5 lakh Indian debit,credit card records are being sold on dark net for $9 a piece Google wrote in a blogpost earlier this year that the Play Store has introduced new policies and have scaled up defenses and Bread apps were forced to continually iterate to search for gaps and have used just about every cloaking and obfuscation technique to try and go undetected. “Many of these samples appear to be designed specifically to attempt to slip into the Play Store undetected and are not seen elsewhere,” Google wrote. Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. 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