Google Play Store is one of the most reliable platforms for Android users to download apps from, while iPhone users head to the App Store. Just like Apple, Google has several safety measures in check as to what kind of apps are listed on the Play Store. But, there are times when scammers use new methods to inject malware into applications and steal money and data from users.

Such instances have happened in the past and the cloud security company Zscaler has now reported that Google recently removed over 50 apps from the Play Store because they were infected with malware. In the report, Zscaler explained that its ThreatLabz team found apps in Google Play infected with three different malware families — Joker, Facestealer, and Coper.

The report stated that most of these apps were infected with Joker malware, which is undoubtedly one of the prominent malware families targeting Android devices. The report noted that Joker malware “keeps finding its way into Google’s official app store by regularly modifying the malware’s trace signatures including updates to the code, execution methods, and payload-retrieving techniques.” “This malware is designed to steal SMS messages, contact lists, and device information, and to sign the victim up for premium wireless application protocol (WAP) services,” the report explained.

Google was immediately informed about these apps and the company pulled them down immediately. But this didn’t solve the problem, and that’s because all these apps were already downloaded by hundreds and thousands of Android users.

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