If you’ve downloaded any apps from Google’s Play Store in the last 12 months, you might want to give your phone a thorough check and give it a deep clean. According to security experts from the Zscaler team, dangerous and malicious apps continue to infiltrate the official platform and are believed to have been downloaded by millions of Android users over the past 12 months.
According to Zscaler, more than 200 malware-filled applications have been discovered on the Play Store and have been installed more than 8 million times by unsuspecting phone owners. This is a worrying statistic and shows no signs of slowing down.
In fact, mobile remains the largest threat vector, with spyware increasing by 111 percent and banking malware increasing by 29 percent.
For example, Anatsa is a well-known Android banking bug that uses PDF and QR code readers to distribute malware. More than 650 financial institutions have been targeted since it was created by cybercriminals.
“Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting legacy public assets that serve as beachheads into IoT and OT environments, resulting in data breaches and ransomware attacks,” said Zscaler Chief Security Officer. says Deepen Desai.
“As mobile malware and AI-powered vishing attacks join the list, it will be important for CISOs and CIOs to prioritize AI-powered zero trust solutions that block all types of attack vectors to prevent these attacks. ”
Google works hard to prevent harmful applications from appearing in the Play Store, but with so much software available, some malicious applications may slip through the net. is unavoidable.
While many are removed as soon as they are found to have hidden malware, this new alert is a warning to always be careful before installing new apps on your phone.
Before you tap the download button, check the reviews to see if the developer has a good reputation.
If after installing an app your phone suddenly slows down or starts showing a lot of ads, you may want to review the application and consider removing it.
Another helpful tip is to make sure Google Play Protect is enabled on your device. This Google service is designed to keep your apps secure and your data private.
Google Play Protect can also check your apps and devices for harmful behavior and disable or remove harmful apps from your device.
To make sure this update is enabled, simply open the Google Play Store app. Tap the profile icon in the top right,[Play プロテクト],[設定]Tap .
Turn Scan for apps using Play Protect on or off.
